scholarly journals Microglial modulation as a mechanism behind the promotion of central nervous system well-being by physical exercise

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 188-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel K. Jensen ◽  
V. Wee Yong
Author(s):  
I B Meier ◽  
C Vieira Ligo Teixeira ◽  
I Tarnanas ◽  
F Mirza ◽  
L Rajendran

Abstract Recent case studies show that the SARS-CoV-2 infectious disease, COVID-19, is associated with accelerated decline of mental health, in particular, cognition in elderly individuals, but also with neurological and neuropsychiatric illness in young people. Recent studies also show a bidirectional link between COVID-19 and mental health in that people with previous history of psychiatric illness have a higher risk for contracting COVID-19 and that COVID-19 patients display a variety of psychiatric illnesses. Risk factors and the response of the central nervous system to the virus show large overlaps with pathophysiological processes associated with Alzheimer’s disease, delirium, post-operative cognitive dysfunction and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, all characterized by cognitive impairment. These similarities lead to the hypothesis that the neurological symptoms could arise from neuroinflammation and immune cell dysfunction both in the periphery as well as in the central nervous system and the assumption that long-term consequences of COVID-19 may lead to cognitive impairment in the well-being of the patient and thus in today’s workforce, resulting in large loss of productivity. Therefore, particular attention should be paid to neurological protection during treatment and recovery of COVID-19, while cognitive consequences may require monitoring.


2021 ◽  
pp. 003435522110255
Author(s):  
Teresa Ann Grenawalt ◽  
Emre Umucu ◽  
Antonio Reyes ◽  
Andrea Baylin ◽  
David R. Strauser ◽  
...  

This study aims to validate a measure of well-being, the PERMA-Profiler, among a sample of young adult survivors of pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumor. Measurement structure of the PERMA-Profiler was evaluated using exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis using pretest–posttest data. Reliability and concurrent validity of the PERMA-Profiler were examined. This study included 127 young adult survivors of pediatric CNS tumor between the ages of 18 and 30 ( M = 23.83, SD = 3.00) years. The results of factor analyses yielded a single-factor solution for well-being. Significant relationships between well-being and happiness, life satisfaction, perceived stress, and physical health were observed, providing support for the concurrent validity of the PERMA-Profiler. The PERMA-Profiler displayed good internal consistency and test–retest reliability. The PERMA-Profiler can help rehabilitation researchers and counselors better evaluate well-being in young adult survivors of pediatric CNS tumor, which provides opportunity for more targeted psychosocial interventions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 94 (1114) ◽  
pp. 446-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
Borros M Arneth

BackgroundThe gut–brain axis facilitates a critical bidirectional link and communication between the brain and the gut. Recent studies have highlighted the significance of interactions in the gut–brain axis, with a particular focus on intestinal functions, the nervous system and the brain. Furthermore, researchers have examined the effects of the gut microbiome on mental health and psychiatric well-being.The present study reviewed published evidence to explore the concept of the gut–brain axis.AimsThis systematic review investigated the relationship between human brain function and the gut–brain axis.MethodsTo achieve these objectives, peer-reviewed articles on the gut–brain axis were identified in various electronic databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, CIHAHL, Web of Science and PsycINFO.ResultsData obtained from previous studies showed that the gut–brain axis links various peripheral intestinal functions to brain centres through a broad range of processes and pathways, such as endocrine signalling and immune system activation. Researchers have found that the vagus nerve drives bidirectional communication between the various systems in the gut–brain axis. In humans, the signals are transmitted from the liminal environment to the central nervous system.ConclusionsThe communication that occurs in the gut–brain axis can alter brain function and trigger various psychiatric conditions, such as schizophrenia and depression. Thus, elucidation of the gut–brain axis is critical for the management of certain psychiatric and mental disorders.


2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aysu Okbay ◽  
Bart M. L. Baselmans ◽  
Jan-Emmanuel De Neve ◽  
Patrick Turley ◽  
Michel G. Nivard ◽  
...  

We conducted a genome-wide association study of subjective well-being (SWB) in 298,420 individuals. We also performed auxiliary analyses of depressive symptoms ("DS";N= 161,460) and neuroticism (N= 170,910), both of which have a substantial genetic correlation with SWB (ρ≈-0.8). We identify three SNPs associated with SWB at genome-wide significance. Two of them are significantly associated with DS in an independent sample. In our auxiliary analyses, we identify 13 additional genome-wide-significant associations: two with DS and eleven with neuroticism, including two inversion polymorphisms. Across our phenotypes, loci regulating expression in central nervous system and adrenal/pancreas tissues are enriched. The discovery of genetic loci associated with the three phenotypes we study has proven elusive; our findings illustrate the payoffs from studying them jointly.


2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 492-499
Author(s):  
Anna Kupryjaniuk ◽  
Michał Sobstyl

Pregnant women may experience high levels of stress, including those associated with finding oneself in a new reality. In addition, the new reality is the COVID-19 pandemic, which has contributed to the deterioration of the mental state of many people. Chronic stress can lead to neuroanatomical changes in the mother, but also in her baby. It leads to atrophy of neurons in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, and to the growth and enlargement of the amygdala, i.e. those structures that are responsible for emotions. The mother's emotions also shape the synapses in the fetus, and the neurotransmitters secreted by the mother modify the development of the baby's brain. Research is ongoing in many countries on the consequences of anxiety and depression in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. For this reason, it is important to take care of psychological well-being, for example by using the techniques of cognitive behavioral therapy. Support from relatives during pregnancy and childbirth is also an extremely important element in the proper development of the central nervous system of the mother and her child.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (16) ◽  
pp. 5895 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Mahalakshmi ◽  
Nancy Maurya ◽  
Shin-Da Lee ◽  
V. Bharath Kumar

Physical exercise (PE) improves physical performance, mental status, general health, and well-being. It does so by affecting many mechanisms at the cellular and molecular level. PE is beneficial for people suffering from neuro-degenerative diseases because it improves the production of neurotrophic factors, neurotransmitters, and hormones. PE promotes neuronal survival and neuroplasticity and also optimizes neuroendocrine and physiological responses to psychosocial and physical stress. PE sensitizes the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) and central nervous system (CNS) by promoting many processes such as synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis, angiogenesis, and autophagy. Overall, it carries out many protective and preventive activities such as improvements in memory, cognition, sleep and mood; growth of new blood vessels in nervous system; and the reduction of stress, anxiety, neuro-inflammation, and insulin resistance. In the present work, the protective effects of PE were overviewed. Suitable examples from the current research work in this context are also given in the article.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 943
Author(s):  
Milena Pertz ◽  
Thomas Kowalski ◽  
Patrizia Thoma ◽  
Uwe Schlegel

Within the past decades, long-term survival was achieved in a substantial fraction of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) patients, expanding the focus of research to their quality of life (QoL). Social relationships crucially contribute to well-being in the context of adversity. Therefore, abilities that facilitate social interactions essentially determine QoL. The present study specifically targeted those sociocognitive abilities. Forty-three PCNSL patients with ongoing complete remission to therapy for at least one year and 43 healthy controls matched for age, gender and education were examined with standardized self-report and behavioral measures of social cognition. An impaired ability to comprehend others´ feelings was found in patients for both positive and negative mental states. Patients had difficulties in identifying the awkward element in challenging social situations, whereas the degree of discomfort experienced in those situations was comparable between groups. Both the production of optimal solutions for social situations and the mere recognition of these among less optimal strategies were impaired in patients. Clinicians should be aware of possible sociocognitive impairment and ought to address this in additional supportive interventions. Impaired sociocognitive abilities may entail social conflicts at a time when patients rely on social support. This, in turn, could detrimentally affect QoL.


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