Mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of physical exercise on multiple sclerosis: focus on immune cells.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a prevalent neuroimmunological illness that leads to neurological disability in young adults. Although the etiology of MS is heterogeneous, it is well established that aberrant activity of adaptive and innate immune cells plays a crucial role in its pathogenesis. Several immune cell abnormalities have been described in MS and its animal models, including T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, dendritic cells, neutrophils, microglia/macrophages, and astrocytes, among others. Physical exercise offers a valuable alternative or adjunctive disease-modifying therapy for MS. A growing body of evidence indicates that exercise may reduce the autoimmune responses triggered by immune cells in MS. This is partially accomplished by restricting the infiltration of peripheral immune cells into the central nervous system (CNS) parenchyma, curbing hyperactivation of immune cells, and facilitating a transition in the balance of immune cells from a pro-inflammatory to an anti-inflammatory state. This review provides a succinct overview of the correlation between physical exercise, immune cells, and MS pathology, and highlights the potential benefits of exercise as a strategy for the prevention and treatment of MS.

Mechanosensitive Piezo1 channel in physiology and pathophysiology of the central nervous system.

Since the discovery of the mechanosensitive Piezo1 channel in 2010, there has been a significant amount of research conducted to explore its regulatory role in the physiology and pathology of various organ systems. Recently, a growing body of compelling evidence has emerged linking the activity of the mechanosensitive Piezo1 channel to health and disease of the central nervous system. However, the exact mechanisms underlying these associations remain inadequately comprehended. This review systematically summarizes the current research on the mechanosensitive Piezo1 channel and its implications for central nervous system mechanobiology, retrospects the results demonstrating the regulatory role of the mechanosensitive Piezo1 channel on various cell types within the central nervous system, including neural stem cells, neurons, oligodendrocytes, microglia, astrocytes, and brain endothelial cells. Furthermore, the review discusses the current understanding of the involvement of the Piezo1 channel in central nervous system disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, stroke, and glioma.

The association between sedentary behavioral characteristics and poor vision among Chinese children and adolescents.

Introduction: To understand the features of sedentary behavior of Chinese children and adolescents and its relationship with poor visual acuity, a self-administered "Questionnaire on Sedentary Behavior of Children and Adolescents" was used to survey 4,203 students in grades 4-12 in six administrative regions of China. Results: (1) The average time spent in sedentary behaviors (SB) of Chinese children and adolescents was about 8.1 h per day, of which the academic sedentary time was the longest, accounting for 79.2% of total sedentary time. The total time spent on SB and the time spent on studying SB were more in the upper grades and less in screen SB and cultural leisure SB, respectively. There were significant sex differences in total SB time (p < 0.05) and weekend sedentary behaviors time (SB-WD) (p < 0.01) among Chinese children and adolescents, with girls being more likely to be higher than boys. There were also significant differences in sedentary time across different regions (p < 0.05), and the longest total sedentary time in East China. (2) Reduction parents' sedentary time and limitation of sedentary behaviors and the use of electronics among children and adolescents can effectively reduce sedentary time among Chinese children and adolescents. (3) Sedentary time was significantly higher in children and adolescents with poor vision than in those with normal vision (p < 0.01), and study SB and screen SB were important independent factors affecting vision. (4) Timing of breaks in SB can play a positive role in promoting vision health. Conclusion: There were significant grade, sex, and regional differences in the SB of Chinese children and adolescents, and sedentary time was strongly related to the prevalence of poor vision detection rate.

Understanding How Physical Exercise Improves Alzheimer's Disease: Cholinergic and Monoaminergic Systems.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by the accumulation of proteinaceous aggregates and neurofibrillary lesions composed of ß-amyloid (Aß) peptide and hyperphosphorylated microtubule-associated protein tau, respectively. It has long been known that dysregulation of cholinergic and monoaminergic (i.e., dopaminergic, serotoninergic, and noradrenergic) systems is involved in the pathogenesis of AD. Abnormalities in neuronal activity, neurotransmitter signaling input, and receptor function exaggerate Aß deposition and tau hyperphosphorylation. Maintenance of normal neurotransmission is essential to halt AD progression. Most neurotransmitters and neurotransmitter-related drugs modulate the pathology of AD and improve cognitive function through G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Exercise therapies provide an important alternative or adjunctive intervention for AD. Cumulative evidence indicates that exercise can prevent multiple pathological features found in AD and improve cognitive function through delaying the degeneration of cholinergic and monoaminergic neurons; increasing levels of acetylcholine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine; and modulating the activity of certain neurotransmitter-related GPCRs. Emerging insights into the mechanistic links among exercise, the neurotransmitter system, and AD highlight the potential of this intervention as a therapeutic approach for AD.

Effects of Mind-Body Exercise on Brain Structure and Function: A Systematic Review on MRI Studies.

Mind-body exercise has been proposed to confer both physical and mental health benefits. However, there is no clear consensus on the neural mechanisms underlying the improvements in health. Herein, we conducted a systematic review to reveal which brain region or network is regulated by mind-body exercise. PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, SPORTDiscus, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were systematically searched to identify cross-sectional and intervention studies using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to explore the effect of mind-body exercise on brain structure and function, from their inception to June 2020. The risk of bias for cross-sectional studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist, whereas that of interventional studies was analyzed using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. A total of 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. Our analysis revealed that mind-body exercise modulated brain structure, brain neural activity, and functional connectivity, mainly in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus/medial temporal lobe, lateral temporal lobe, insula, and the cingulate cortex, as well as the cognitive control and default mode networks, which might underlie the beneficial effects of such exercises on health. However, due to the heterogeneity of included studies, more randomized controlled trials with rigorous designs, similar measured outcomes, and whole-brain analyses are warranted.