Effects of physical activity on hippocampal plasticity and cognition / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: As a practical model, physical activity can study the relationship between exercise and brain health In various ways, so as to better understand the promotion of exercise to the brain. In particular, how physical activity changes the structure and function of the hippocampus. OBJECTIVE: To review the researches on the physical activity, hippocampus and cognition, and to put forward the problems that need to be solved in current practice and research application. METHODS: PubMed database was retrieved for relevant studies published from 1995 to 2019. The keywords were “physical activity, exercise, hippocampus, cognition, neuroplasticity, adaptive, mechanisms” in English. The articles about the practical application and regulation mechanism for physical activity, hippocampus and cognition were included. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Totally 142 collected articles were searched firstly, the irrelevant and repetitive articles were excluded, and finally 89 eligible articles were included. The hippocampal dentate gyrus has the ability to regenerate nerves. Regular physical activity has a profound effect on the health of the body and brain, and can promote the nerve regeneration of hippocampus dentate gyrus, which can be increased by 2-3 times. This type of nerve mainly occurs in the dorsal side of dentate gyrus. In addition, exercise is also important for changes in neuronal maturation, morphology, and connectivity, and can alter the integration pathways of new neurons and increase the number of incoming neonatal and afferent cell synapses. The nerve regeneration of dentate gyrus is related to various factors induced by exercise. Exercise can promote changes in hippocampal synaptic plasticity by regulating excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters. Exercise-induced increase in serum brain derived neurotrophic factor levels may reduce hippocampal volume changes. The duration and intensity of exercise can differentially regulate cerebral blood flow, which in turn affect neuronal activity. Overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor after long-term exercise can promote the proliferation of hippocampus and increase the hippocampal neurogenesis. Besides, exercise can also alter the synaptic plasticity and connectivity of adult newborn neurons, enhancing the integration of adult newborn neurons with existing hippocampal-enveloping pathways.