Capitalizing on cortical plasticity: influence of physical activity on cognition and brain function
- PMID: 17629545
- DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2007.06.009
Capitalizing on cortical plasticity: influence of physical activity on cognition and brain function
Abstract
Given the aging populations in many countries throughout the world, there is an increasing interest in lifestyle factors and interventions that will enhance the cognitive vitality of older adults and reduce the risk for age-related neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. In this review, we evaluate the hypothesis that physical activity and exercise might serve to protect, and also enhance, cognitive and brain function across the adult lifespan. To this end, we critically review three separate literatures that have examined the influence of physical activity and exercise on cognition, brain function and brain structure of adults, including epidemiological or prospective observational studies, randomized human clinical interventions and non-human animal studies. We suggest that this literature supports the claim that physical activity enhances cognitive and brain function, and protects against the development of neurodegenerative diseases. We discuss future directions to address currently unresolved questions, such as interactions between multiple lifestyle factors on offsetting or protecting against cognitive and neural decline, and conclude that physical activity is an inexpensive treatment that could have substantial preventative and restorative properties for cognitive and brain function.
Similar articles
-
Brain plasticity and functional losses in the aged: scientific bases for a novel intervention.Prog Brain Res. 2006;157:81-109. doi: 10.1016/S0079-6123(06)57006-2. Prog Brain Res. 2006. PMID: 17046669 Review.
-
Enrichment Effects on Adult Cognitive Development: Can the Functional Capacity of Older Adults Be Preserved and Enhanced?Psychol Sci Public Interest. 2008 Oct;9(1):1-65. doi: 10.1111/j.1539-6053.2009.01034.x. Epub 2008 Oct 1. Psychol Sci Public Interest. 2008. PMID: 26162004
-
Revenge of the "sit": how lifestyle impacts neuronal and cognitive health through molecular systems that interface energy metabolism with neuronal plasticity.J Neurosci Res. 2006 Sep;84(4):699-715. doi: 10.1002/jnr.20979. J Neurosci Res. 2006. PMID: 16862541 Review.
-
Caloric restriction and brain function.Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2008 Nov;11(6):686-92. doi: 10.1097/MCO.0b013e328313968f. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2008. PMID: 18827571 Review.
-
Fitness, aging and neurocognitive function.Neurobiol Aging. 2005 Dec;26 Suppl 1:124-7. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2005.09.009. Epub 2005 Oct 5. Neurobiol Aging. 2005. PMID: 16213062 Review.
Cited by
-
Physical exercise affects attentional orienting behavior through noradrenergic mechanisms.Behav Neurosci. 2015 Jun;129(3):361-7. doi: 10.1037/bne0000054. Behav Neurosci. 2015. PMID: 26030434 Free PMC article.
-
Intensive Rehabilitation Enhances Lymphocyte BDNF-TrkB Signaling in Patients With Parkinson's Disease.Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2016 Jun;30(5):411-8. doi: 10.1177/1545968315600272. Epub 2015 Aug 7. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2016. PMID: 26253177 Free PMC article.
-
Effects of a 6 Week Yoga Intervention on Executive Functioning in Women Screening Positive for Adult ADHD: A Pilot Study.Front Sports Act Living. 2022 Feb 24;4:746409. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2022.746409. eCollection 2022. Front Sports Act Living. 2022. PMID: 35280225 Free PMC article.
-
Relationship between physical activity and cognitive functioning among older Indian adults.Sci Rep. 2022 Feb 17;12(1):2725. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-06725-3. Sci Rep. 2022. PMID: 35177736 Free PMC article.
-
A Pilot Study of Aerobic Exercise as an Adjunctive Treatment for Drug Dependence.Ment Health Phys Act. 2010 Jun 1;3(1):27-34. doi: 10.1016/j.mhpa.2010.03.001. Ment Health Phys Act. 2010. PMID: 20582151 Free PMC article.
Publication types
MeSH terms
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Medical
