Exercise Reshapes the Brain: Molecular, Cellular, and Structural Changes Associated with Cognitive Improvements.
Marcus Augusto-OliveiraGabriela P ArrifanoCaio G Leal-NazaréLetícia Santos-SacramentoAmanda Lopes-AraújoLuiz Fernando Freire RoyesMaria Elena Crespo-LópezPublished in: Molecular neurobiology (2023)
Physical exercise is well known as a non-pharmacological and holistic therapy believed to prevent and mitigate numerous neurological conditions and alleviate ageing-related cognitive decline. To do so, exercise affects the central nervous system (CNS) at different levels. It changes brain physiology and structure, promoting cognitive improvements, which ultimately improves quality of life. Most of these effects are mediated by neurotrophins release, enhanced adult hippocampal neurogenesis, attenuation of neuroinflammation, modulation of cerebral blood flow, and structural reorganisation, besides to promote social interaction with beneficial cognitive outcomes. In this review, we discuss, based on experimental and human research, how exercise impacts the brain structure and function and how these changes contribute to cognitive improvements. Understanding the mechanisms by which exercise affects the brain is essential to understand the brain plasticity following exercise, guiding therapeutic approaches to improve the quality of life, especially in obesity, ageing, neurodegenerative disorders, and following traumatic brain injury.
Keyphrases
- cerebral ischemia
- high intensity
- resting state
- traumatic brain injury
- cognitive decline
- white matter
- physical activity
- functional connectivity
- resistance training
- type diabetes
- blood brain barrier
- cerebral blood flow
- metabolic syndrome
- healthcare
- endothelial cells
- subarachnoid hemorrhage
- mental health
- weight loss
- body mass index
- body composition
- weight gain
- induced pluripotent stem cells