Revenge of the “Sit”: How lifestyle impacts neuronal and cognitive health through molecular systems that interface energy metabolism with neuronal plasticity

Abstract

Exercise, a behavior that is inherently associated with energy metabolism, impacts the molecular systems important for synaptic plasticity and learning and memory. This implies that a close association must exist between these systems to ensure proper neuronal function. This review emphasizes the ability of exercise and other lifestyle implementations that modulate energy metabolism, such as diet, to impact brain function. Mechanisms believed to interface metabolism and cognition seem to play a critical role with the brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) system. Behaviors concerned with activity and metabolism may have developed simultaneously and interdependently during evolution to determine the influence of exercise and diet on cognition. A look into our evolutionary past indicates that our genome remains unchanged from the times of our hunter-gatherer ancestors, whose active lifestyle predominated throughout almost 100% of humankind's existence. Consequently, the sedentary lifestyle and eating behaviors enabled by the comforts of technologic progress may be reaping "revenge" on the health of both our bodies and brains. In the 21st century we are confronted by the ever-increasing incidence of metabolic disorders in both the adult and child population. The ability of exercise and diet to impact systems that promote cell survival and plasticity may be applicable for combating the deleterious effects of disease and ageing on brain health and cognition.

Aerobic fitness and cognitive development: Event-related brain potential and task performance indices of executive control in preadolescent children.

“…However, an in-depth discussion of the various mechanisms is beyond the scope of this article. The interested reader may refer to several recent reviews (e.g., Hillman, Erickson, & Kramer, 2008;Kramer & Erickson, 2007;Vaynman & Gomez-Pinilla, 2006). Lastly, no relationship was found for aerobic fitness and the N2 component.…”

Current perspectives of the roles of the central norepinephrine system in anxiety and depression

“…[34,[91][92][93][94][95][96][97] Furthermore, nonpharmacological approaches (e.g., exercise, diet control, and life-style changes) also increase BDNF and neurogenesis. [78,[98][99][100] These approaches may constitute an indirect way to modulate NE functions, which, in turn, regulate BDNF and neurogenesis-dependent mechanisms to normalize the state of anxious depression. [101,102] …”

The interactive effects of physical fitness and acute aerobic exercise on electrophysiological coherence and cognitive performance in adolescents

“…animal models highlight possible mechanisms through which exercise may influence neurological development, increase neurological efficiency, and enhance cognitive performance. the processes of neural adaptation induced by exercise comprise an increase in regional blood flow (Endres et al 2003), promotion of brain vascularization (Pereira et al 2007), an increase in levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), as well as up-regulation of genes associated with cellular plasticity (Vaynman and Gomez-Pinilla 2006). Moreover, the induction of hippocampal neurogenesis, particularly in the dentate gyrus following physical exercise has been observed in adult (Van Praag et al 1999a, b;llorens-Martín et al 2006) as well as juvenile mammals (lou et al 2008).…”