Exercise Intervention in Treatment of Neuropsychological Diseases: A Review

Abstract

Faced with a constant inundation of information and increasing pressures brought by the continuous development of modern civilization, people are increasingly faced with mental health challenges that are only now being actively researched. Mental illness is caused by brain dysfunction due to internal and external pathogenic factors that destroy the integrity of the human brain and alter its function. Regular participation in physical exercise can stimulate the cerebral cortex and simultaneously increase the supply of oxygen and nutrients, helping to preserve or restore normal functioning of the nervous system. In conjunction with other systems of the body, the nervous system constitutes the neuro-humoral regulation system responsible for maintaining the stable state of the human body. This paper is a systematic review of studies investigating the effects of exercise intervention on several common neuropsychological diseases, including depression, anxiety disorder, autism, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Furthermore, we discuss possible physiological mechanisms underlying exercise-induced benefits and study limitations that must be addressed by future research. In many cases, drug therapy is ineffective and brings unwanted side effects. Based on the literature, we conclude that exercise intervention plays a positive role and that certain standards must be established in the field to make physical activity consistently effective.

Post-COVID-19 Syndrome and the Potential Benefits of Exercise

“…Exercise can act as a psychoactive drug [ 118 ]. Regular exercise has been proven to be a powerful tool in improving the quality of life, in controlling mood and its illnesses (depression and anxiety), in reducing psychological stress and in modulating the perception of pain [ 119 ]. Exercise modulates the brain structure and function to stimulate a healthier neurological phenotype [ 120 ].…”

Inadequate Mental Health Literacy and Insufficient Physical Activity Potentially Increase the Risks of Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Chinese College Students

“…Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the inverse association between physical activity and mental health problems ( 40 ). Regular physical activity helps to restore or preserve proper function of the nervous system by stimulating the cerebral cortex, and simultaneously increasing the supply of oxygen and nutrients, all of which contribute to improve cognitive and mental health ( 41 ). Alternative or additional mechanisms involve that physical activity may enhance psychosocial determinants of mental health including self-efficacy and sense of mastery through effective interaction with the social context ( 42 ).…”

The Role of Padel in Improving Physical Fitness and Health Promotion: Progress, Limitations, and Future Perspectives—A Narrative Review

“…Lifetime regular exercise contributes to a better quality of life, improving body composition and cardiometabolic and cognitive conditions [ 10 , 11 ], and delaying the onset of over 40 chronic diseases [ 12 , 13 , 14 ]. From a psychological point of view, exercise has proven positive effects in controlling depression and anxiety, reducing stress, and modulating the perception of pain [ 15 ]. Furthermore, exercise has a role in enhancing neurocognitive abilities, such as learning, concentration, memory, inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and the processing of information.…”