Exercise Shapes up Brain Health

Physical exercise (PE) is defined as any planned, structured, and repetitive physical activity that aims to improve or to maintain fitness. There is growing evidence that PE improves brain functions including cognition, memory, motor and emotional behavior. Moreover, PE has been envisioned as a disease-modifying strategy in neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, and as a preventive strategy in age-related CNS maladaptations. Although the mechanisms whereby PE improves neuropsychiatric function are not yet fully understood, the following mechanisms were put forward: a) blunting effect on hormonal stress system (HPA), sympathetic nervous system and immune system; b) increase in number of circulating Tregs and reduction of pro-inflammatory monocytes and macrophages expressing Toll-like receptors; c) decrease of neuroinflammation; d) restoring neuroprotective glia phenotypes; e) increase in expression of neurotrophins and f) enhancing neural plasticity and neurogenesis. Overall, PE is a non-pharmacological intervention which appears to be a very promising approach to the treatment of illness and the promotion of central nervous system (CNS) health.

The current Research Topic focuses on the translational nature of physical exercise within the context of neuropsychiatric health. We are specifically seeking preclinical and translational articles and reviews focused on the involvement of physical exercise in the regulation of:

- Emotional behavior
- Cognition
- Neuroinflammation
- Neuroprotection
- Neurorepair
- Aging