Advancing Alzheimer’s Therapeutics: Exploring the Impact of Physical Exercise in Animal Models and Patients

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the main neurodegenerative disorder characterized by several pathophysiological features, including the misfolding of the tau protein and the amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, synaptic dysfunction, metabolic alterations, and cognitive impairment. These mechanisms collectively contribute to neurodegeneration, necessitating the exploration of therapeutic approaches with multiple targets. Physical exercise has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological intervention for AD, with demonstrated effects on promoting neurogenesis, activating neurotrophic factors, reducing Aβ aggregates, minimizing the formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), dampening inflammatory processes, mitigating oxidative stress, and improving the functionality of the neurovascular unit (NVU). Overall, the neuroprotective effects of exercise are not singular, but are multi-targets. Numerous studies have investigated physical exercise’s potential in both AD patients and animal models, employing various exercise protocols to elucidate the underlying neurobiological mechanisms and effects. The objective of this review is to analyze the neurological therapeutic effects of these exercise protocols in animal models and compare them with studies conducted in AD patients. By translating findings from different approaches, this review aims to identify opportune, specific, and personalized therapeutic windows, thus advancing research on the use of physical exercise with AD patients.

Harnessing Passive Pulsatile Shear Stress for Alzheimer’s Disease Prevention and Intervention

“…The current knowledge and molecular mechanisms of exercise induced improvements in cognitive dysfunction, have been recently reviewed, focusing on exercise enhancement of neural plasticity, structure, function, mitochondrial health, and modification of the muscle brain axis and others [ 105 ]. Furthermore, a recent summary of the impact of physical exercise on AD in animal models and humans has been published [ 106 ]. Active exercise has been shown in various systematic reviews and meta-analysis to be beneficial.…”