Brain train to combat brain drain; focus on exercise strategies that optimize neuroprotection

Abstract

The topic of this review is to consider innovative exercise strategies that optimize neuroprotection in order to combat cognitive decline and neurodegenerative disease in older age. r What advances does it highlight?The review summarizes current understanding around exercise mode, duration, frequency and intensity, and then highlights adaptive roles of select stressors that have equal if not indeed greater capacity than exercise per se to induce health-related adaptation in the brain. These stressors include, but are not exclusively limited to, hydrostatic and thermal stress, hypoxia, nutritional supplementation and cognitive loading, and are effective by targeting specific pathways that collectively contribute towards improved brain structure and function.The prevalence of cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. stroke and dementia) is increasing. Numerous studies show that regular exercise has beneficial effects on brain health in clinical and non-clinical populations, yet adherence to public health exercise guidelines is notoriously poor. Recently, novel exercise strategies have been investigated to allow for more individualized and prescriptive approaches that target the key mechanistic pathways that allow exercise to mediate adaptation.

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Cerebral Blood Flow Responses to Aquatic Treadmill Exercise

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“…В исследовании Franzke B. и соавторов было выявлено, что и когнитивный тренинг, и физические тренировки снижают маркеры хромосомной нестабильности и мутагенности, что может замедлить старение клеток, в том числе у пациентов с СД [45]. Также разрабатываются целые комплексы занятий с оценкой их эффективности в плане коррекции когнитивного снижения [46]. Так, Baker L.D.…”