Neuroprotective Effects of Physical Activity via the Adaptation of Astrocytes

The multifold benefits of regular physical exercise have been largely demonstrated in human and animal models. Several studies have reported the beneficial effects of physical activity, both in peripheral tissues and in the central nervous system (CNS). Regular exercise improves cognition, brain plasticity, neurogenesis and reduces the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases, making timeless the principle of “mens sana in corpore sano” (i.e., a healthy mind in a healthy body). Physical exercise promotes morphological and functional changes in the brain, acting not only in neurons but also in astrocytes, which represent the most numerous glial cells in the brain. The multiple effects of exercise on astrocytes comprise the increased number of new astrocytes, the maintenance of basal levels of catecholamine, the increase in glutamate uptake, the major release of trophic factors and better astrocytic coverage of cerebral blood vessels. The purpose of this review is to highlight the effects of exercise on brain function, emphasize the role of astrocytes in the healthy CNS, and provide an update for a better understanding of the effects of physical exercise in the modulation of astrocyte function.

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Epigenetic Modifications of theα-Synuclein Gene and Relative Protein Content Are Affected by Ageing and Physical Exercise in Blood from Healthy Subjects

Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity ◽

10.1155/2018/3740345 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2018 ◽

pp. 1-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Simona Daniele ◽

Barbara Costa ◽

Deborah Pietrobono ◽

Chiara Giacomelli ◽

Caterina Iofrida ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Physical Exercise ◽

Epigenetic Regulation ◽

Healthy Subjects ◽

Dna Methyltransferase ◽

Epigenetic Modification ◽

Methylation Status ◽

Peripheral Tissues ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Age Related

Epigenetic regulation may contribute to the beneficial effects of physical activity against age-related neurodegeneration. For example, epigenetic alterations of the gene encoding forα-synuclein (SNCA) have been widely explored in both brain and peripheral tissues of Parkinson’s disease samples. However, no data are currently available about the effects of physical exercise onSNCAepigenetic regulation in ageing healthy subjects. The present paper explored whether, in healthy individuals, age and physical activity are related to blood intron1-SNCA(SNCAI1) methylation, as well as further parameters linked to such epigenetic modification (total, oligomericα-synuclein and DNA methyltransferase concentrations in the blood). Here, theSNCAI1methylation status increased with ageing, and consistent with this result, lowα-synuclein levels were found in the blood. The direct relationship betweenSNCAI1methylation andα-synuclein levels was observed in samples characterized by bloodα-synuclein concentrations of 76.3 ng/mg protein or lower (confidence interval (CI) = 95%). In this selected population, higher physical activity reduced the total and oligomericα-synuclein levels. Taken together, our data shed light on ageing- and physical exercise-induced changes on theSNCAmethylation status and protein levels ofα-synuclein.

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Neuroprotective effects of physical exercise: Implications in health and disease

Romanian Medical Journal ◽

10.37897/rmj.2021.3.9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 68 (3) ◽

pp. 383-389

Author(s):

Sebastian Romeo Pintilie ◽

◽

Alice D. Condrat ◽

Adriana Fodor ◽

Adela-Viviana Sitar-Tăut ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Physical Exercise ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Cellular Level ◽

Neuroprotective Effects ◽

Chemical Effects ◽

Physical Exercises ◽

Health And Disease ◽

Molecular Aspects ◽

The Brain

Physical exercises have long been linked to numerous health improvements, ranging from cardiovascular to psychiatric. In this review, we take a closer look on its anatomical, physiological and chemical effects on the brain. Starting from the clinical to the cellular level, we will analyze the neurogenesis, anti-inflammatory effects on Brain-Blood Barrier and synaptic plasticity, outlining known molecular aspects that are influenced by physical activity, such as: gene expression, changes of growth factors and neurotransmitter levels and means of reverting molecular mechanisms of ageing. The brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is one of the central molecules that links the physical exercise to neurogenesis, neuroprotection, cognitive functions, dendritic growth, memory formation and many more. We indicate the correlation between physical activity and mental health in diseases like depression, Alzheimer’s dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

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Administration of Bifidobacterium breve Improves the Brain Function of Aβ1-42-Treated Mice via the Modulation of the Gut Microbiome

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13051602 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 1602

Author(s):

Guangsu Zhu ◽

Jianxin Zhao ◽

Hao Zhang ◽

Wei Chen ◽

Gang Wang

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiome ◽

Dietary Intervention ◽

Neuroprotective Effects ◽

Bifidobacterium Breve ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Behavioral Abnormalities ◽

Fibronectin Type Iii ◽

Fibronectin Type Iii Domain ◽

The Brain ◽

Fibronectin Type

Psychobiotics are used to treat neurological disorders, including mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the mechanisms underlying their neuroprotective effects remain unclear. Herein, we report that the administration of bifidobacteria in an AD mouse model improved behavioral abnormalities and modulated gut dysbiosis. Bifidobacterium breve CCFM1025 and WX treatment significantly improved synaptic plasticity and increased the concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), fibronectin type III domain-containing protein 5 (FNDC5), and postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95). Furthermore, the microbiome and metabolomic profiles of mice indicate that specific bacterial taxa and their metabolites correlate with AD-associated behaviors, suggesting that the gut–brain axis contributes to the pathophysiology of AD. Overall, these findings reveal that B. breve CCFM1025 and WX have beneficial effects on cognition via the modulation of the gut microbiome, and thus represent a novel probiotic dietary intervention for delaying the progression of AD.

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Physical activity and brain plasticity in late adulthood

Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience ◽

10.31887/dcns.2013.15.1/kerickson ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 99-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Human Brain ◽

Brain Function ◽

Brain Plasticity ◽

Cortical Atrophy ◽

Late Adulthood ◽

Biological Basis ◽

Emotional Function ◽

The Brain

The human brain shrinks with advancing age, but recent research suggests that it is also capable of remarkable plasticity, even in late life. In this review we summarize the research linking greater amounts of physical activity to less cortical atrophy, better brain function, and enhanced cognitive function, and argue that physical activity takes advantage of the brain's natural capacity for plasticity. Further, although the effects of physical activity on the brain are relatively widespread, there is also some specificity, such that prefrontal and hippocampal areas appear to be more influenced than other areas of the brain. The specificity of these effects, we argue, provides a biological basis for understanding the capacity for physical activity to influence neurocognitive and neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression. We conclude that physical activity is a promising intervention that can influence the endogenous pharmacology of the brain to enhance cognitive and emotional function in late adulthood.

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Treadmill Exercise Induces Hippocampal Astroglial Alterations in Rats

Neural Plasticity ◽

10.1155/2013/709732 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-10 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Caren Bernardi ◽

Ana Carolina Tramontina ◽

Patrícia Nardin ◽

Regina Biasibetti ◽

Ana Paula Costa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Exercise ◽

Treadmill Exercise ◽

Brain Plasticity ◽

Glutamate Uptake ◽

Hippocampal Slices ◽

Brain Health ◽

Synaptic Remodeling ◽

Neuroprotective Strategy ◽

Uptake Activity ◽

Underlying Mechanisms

Physical exercise effects on brain health and cognitive performance have been described. Synaptic remodeling in hippocampus induced by physical exercise has been described in animal models, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Changes in astrocytes, the glial cells involved in synaptic remodeling, need more characterization. We investigated the effect of moderate treadmill exercise (20 min/day) for 4 weeks on some parameters of astrocytic activity in rat hippocampal slices, namely, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), glutamate uptake and glutamine synthetase (GS) activities, glutathione content, and S100B protein content and secretion, as well as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and glucose uptake activity in this tissue. Results show that moderate treadmill exercise was able to induce a decrease in GFAP content (evaluated by ELISA and immunohistochemistry) and an increase in GS activity. These changes could be mediated by corticosterone, whose levels were elevated in serum. BDNF, another putative mediator, was not altered in hippocampal tissue. Moreover, treadmill exercise caused a decrease in NO content. Our data indicate specific changes in astrocyte markers induced by physical exercise, the importance of studying astrocytes for understanding brain plasticity, as well as reinforce the relevance of physical exercise as a neuroprotective strategy.

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Lipid profile, apolipoprotein A-I and oxidative stress in professional footballers, sedentary individuals, and their relatives

Arquivos Brasileiros de Endocrinologia & Metabologia ◽

10.1590/s0004-27302011000200004 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 55 (2) ◽

pp. 121-126 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Aline Margioti Zanella ◽

Marcelo Arruda Nakazone ◽

Marcela Augusta Souza Pinhel ◽

Dorotéia Rossi Silva Souza

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Physical Exercise ◽

Lipid Profile ◽

Ldl Cholesterol ◽

Hdl Cholesterol ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Apolipoprotein A ◽

And Oxidative Stress ◽

Cholesterol Fraction

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether lipid profile (LP), apolipoprotein A-1 (apo A-I) and malondialdehyde (MDA) have any relationship with physical exercise by comparing the groups of footballers (FG) with sedentary individuals (CG) and their relatives (RFG and RCG). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty individuals from FG and CG, 60 from RFG, and 57 from RCG were studied. RESULTS: FG showed lower levels of total cholesterol (119.5 ± 37.9 mg/dL), LDL-cholesterol fraction (53.6 ± 30.3), apo A-I (116.7 ± 11.9), and higher level of HDL-cholesterol fraction (HDLc) (49.7 ± 8.5) compared to RFG (148.3 ± 36.9, P = 0.02; 82.4 ± 37.7, P < 0.01; 124.6 ± 10.2, P = 0.03; and 42.7 ± 7.7, P < 0.01; respectively). Moreover, FG had reduced levels of MDA (101.0 ± 77.0 ng/mL) compared to CG (290.0 ± 341.0, P = 0.03) and RFG (209.9 ± 197.5, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest an association between physical exercise and lower levels of MDA in FG. Physical activity seems to promote beneficial effects on the LP regardless of the genetic influence considering HDLc levels.

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Brain Plasticity and Behavior

Current Directions in Psychological Science ◽

10.1111/1467-8721.01210 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 1-5 ◽

Cited By ~ 74

Author(s):

Bryan Kolb ◽

Robbin Gibb ◽

Terry E. Robinson

Keyword(s):

Brain Plasticity ◽

Recovery Of Function ◽

Psychological Disorders ◽

Abnormal Behavior ◽

Brain Organization ◽

Functional Changes ◽

Brain Circuitry ◽

And Function ◽

And Behavior ◽

The Brain

Although the brain was once seen as a rather static organ, it is now clear that the organization of brain circuitry is constantly changing as a function of experience. These changes are referred to as brain plasticity, and they are associated with functional changes that include phenomena such as memory, addiction, and recovery of function. Recent research has shown that brain plasticity and behavior can be influenced by a myriad of factors, including both pre- and postnatal experience, drugs, hormones, maturation, aging, diet, disease, and stress. Understanding how these factors influence brain organization and function is important not only for understanding both normal and abnormal behavior, but also for designing treatments for behavioral and psychological disorders ranging from addiction to stroke.

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The Role of PGC-1α/UCP2 Signaling in the Beneficial Effects of Physical Exercise on the Brain

Frontiers in Neuroscience ◽

10.3389/fnins.2019.00292 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Viviane José de Oliveira Bristot ◽

Ana Cristina de Bem Alves ◽

Liziane Rosa Cardoso ◽

Débora da Luz Scheffer ◽

Aderbal Silva Aguiar

Keyword(s):

Physical Exercise ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

The Brain

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Functional Foods: An Approach to Modulate Molecular Mechanisms of Alzheimer’s Disease

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells9112347 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. 2347

Author(s):

Anna Atlante ◽

Giuseppina Amadoro ◽

Antonella Bobba ◽

Valentina Latina

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Food Product ◽

Neuroprotective Effects ◽

The Road ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Β Amyloid ◽

The Brain

A new epoch is emerging with intense research on nutraceuticals, i.e., “food or food product that provides medical or health benefits including the prevention and treatment of diseases”, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Nutraceuticals act at different biochemical and metabolic levels and much evidence shows their neuroprotective effects; in particular, they are able to provide protection against mitochondrial damage, oxidative stress, toxicity of β-amyloid and Tau and cell death. They have been shown to influence the composition of the intestinal microbiota significantly contributing to the discovery that differential microorganisms composition is associated with the formation and aggregation of cerebral toxic proteins. Further, the routes of interaction between epigenetic mechanisms and the microbiota–gut–brain axis have been elucidated, thus establishing a modulatory role of diet-induced epigenetic changes of gut microbiota in shaping the brain. This review examines recent scientific literature addressing the beneficial effects of some natural products for which mechanistic evidence to prevent or slowdown AD are available. Even if the road is still long, the results are already exceptional.

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Does the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Val66Met Polymorphism Modulate the Effects of Physical Activity and Exercise on Cognition?

The Neuroscientist ◽

10.1177/1073858420975712 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 107385842097571

Author(s):

Bernat de las Heras ◽

Lynden Rodrigues ◽

Jacopo Cristini ◽

Maxana Weiss ◽

Anna Prats-Puig ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Neurotrophic Factor ◽

Brain Plasticity ◽

Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor ◽

Moderating Effect ◽

Cognitive Response ◽

Cognitive Domains ◽

Response To Exercise ◽

Activity Dependent ◽

The Brain

The Val66Met is a polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene that encodes a substitution of a valine (Val) to methionine (Met) amino acid. Carrying this polymorphism reduces the activity-dependent secretion of the BDNF protein, which can potentially affect brain plasticity and cognition. We reviewed the biology of Val66Met and surveyed 26 studies (11,417 participants) that examined the role of this polymorphism in moderating the cognitive response to physical activity (PA) and exercise. Nine observational studies confirmed a moderating effect of Val66Met on the cognitive response to PA but differences between Val and Met carriers were inconsistent and only significant in some cognitive domains. Only five interventional studies found a moderating effect of Val66Met on the cognitive response to exercise, which was also inconsistent in its direction. Two studies showed a superior cognitive response in Val carriers and three studies showed a better response in Met carriers. These results do not support a general and consistent effect of Val66Met in moderating the cognitive response to PA or exercise. Both Val and Met carriers can improve specific aspects of cognition by increasing PA and engaging in exercise. Causes for discrepancies among studies, effect moderators, and future directions are discussed.

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