Loading...
Molecular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of exercise on brain function and neurological disorders
Nay, Kévin Smiles, William J. Kaiser, Jacqueline McAloon, Luke M. Loh, Kim Galic, Sandra Oakhill, Jonathan S. Gundlach, Andrew L. Scott, John W.
Nay, Kévin
Smiles, William J.
Kaiser, Jacqueline
McAloon, Luke M.
Loh, Kim
Galic, Sandra
Oakhill, Jonathan S.
Gundlach, Andrew L.
Scott, John W.
Abstract
As life expectancy has increased, particularly in developed countries, due to medical advances and increased prosperity, age-related neurological diseases and mental health disorders have become more prevalent health issues, reducing the well-being and quality of life of sufferers and their families. In recent decades, due to reduced work-related levels of physical activity, and key research insights, prescribing adequate exercise has become an innovative strategy to prevent or delay the onset of these pathologies and has been demonstrated to have therapeutic benefits when used as a sole or combination treatment. Recent evidence suggests that the beneficial effects of exercise on the brain are related to several underlying mechanisms related to muscle–brain, liver–brain and gut–brain crosstalk. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the most relevant current knowledge of the impact of exercise on mood disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, and to highlight the established and potential underlying mechanisms involved in exercise–brain communication and their benefits for physiology and brain function.
Keywords
exercise, brain, BDNF, iron, microbiota, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease
Date
2021
Type
Journal article
Journal
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Book
Volume
22
Issue
Page Range
1-18
Article Number
Article 4052
ACU Department
Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research
Faculty of Health Sciences
Non-faculty
Faculty of Health Sciences
Non-faculty
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
Published as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
License
CC BY 4.0
File Access
Open