Abstract
The connection between physical exercise and the brain has long been studied. The evidence showing that physical exercise plays a significant role on neurogenesis and cognitive function has primarily been based on research examining aerobic exercise. In this review, we described three exercise modalities: aerobic, anaerobic, and resistance exercise and their impact on brain plasticity and cognitive function. While each of these exercise modalities have been demonstrated to positively influence brain plasticity and cognitive function, the specific mechanism that stimulates these changes appear to differ to some degree between these training modalities. The effect of aerobic and anaerobic exercise appears to be primarily mediated by changes in expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), lactate, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and several additional proteins within the brain. However, resistance exercise appears to influence brain plasticity by myokines such as irisin, insulin-growth factor-1 (IGF1), and BDNF that are secreted from skeletal tissue and stimulate neurogenesis within the brain. In addition to the various training modes, manipulation of various acute program variables such as intensity, volume, and rest intervals leads to numerous possible training paradigms that can provide a different stimulus for neurogenesis. This review focuses on the three primary training modes and their connection to neurogenesis and cognitive function.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 533-538 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Israel Medical Association Journal |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 8 |
| State | Published - 1 Aug 2022 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2022 Israel Medical Association. All rights reserved.
Funding
Aerobic exercise isalso reported to increase the proliferation of brain endothelial cells and increaseangiogenesis [12,13]. Exercise-induced angiogenesis (e.g., the formation of new blood vessels) results in an increase in capillary density within the brain.Angiogenesisinducesthesproutingofnewcapillariesfrom pre-existingvesselsisamechanismthathasbeensuggestedtobe specifictotheendurancetrainingeffectsonbrainfunction[12,13]. Previousstudieshavereportedapositiveassociationbetweenan-giogenesis, brain function, and neurogenesis [12,13]. This find- ing was supported in part by a studyexaminingmicethathadtheproteinpentraxin3(PTX3),an angiogenesisregulator,removed [13].Theinvestigatorsreported significantlygreaterneuronalloss,significantdecreasesinvessel proliferation,and impairedrestoration ofcerebralbloodflowaf-ter ischemic stroke in PTX3 deficient mice compared to control mice. Other investigators demonstrated that brain PTX3 levels are upregulated aftera stroke, promoting recovery by enhancing angiogenesis [12]. Elevated PTX3 expression resulted in an in-creaseinnewlyformedbloodvesselsandanincreasedexpression ofvascularendothelialgrowthfactorreceptor2(VEGFR2).
Keywords
- adaptation
- anaerobic training
- brain plasticity
- resistance training