Running from Stress: Neurobiological Mechanisms of Exercise-Induced Stress Resilience

Abstract

Chronic stress, even stress of a moderate intensity related to daily life, is widely acknowledged to be a predisposing or precipitating factor in neuropsychiatric diseases. There is a clear relationship between disturbances induced by stressful stimuli, especially long-lasting stimuli, and cognitive deficits in rodent models of affective disorders. Regular physical activity has a positive effect on the central nervous system (CNS) functions, contributes to an improvement in mood and of cognitive abilities (including memory and learning), and is correlated with an increase in the expression of the neurotrophic factors and markers of synaptic plasticity as well as a reduction in the inflammatory factors. Studies published so far show that the energy challenge caused by physical exercise can affect the CNS by improving cellular bioenergetics, stimulating the processes responsible for the removal of damaged organelles and molecules, and attenuating inflammation processes. Regular physical activity brings another important benefit: increased stress robustness. The evidence from animal studies is that a sedentary lifestyle is associated with stress vulnerability, whereas a physically active lifestyle is associated with stress resilience. Here, we have performed a comprehensive PubMed Search Strategy for accomplishing an exhaustive literature review. In this review, we discuss the findings from experimental studies on the molecular and neurobiological mechanisms underlying the impact of exercise on brain resilience. A thorough understanding of the mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective potential of preconditioning exercise and of the role of exercise in stress resilience, among other things, may open further options for prevention and therapy in the treatment of CNS diseases.

Association of Neighborhood Characteristics and Chronic Pain in Children and Adolescents in the United States

“…Social and physical neighborhood conditions influence health behaviors and attitudes that impact pain 3,10,18,20,34–37 . Our findings of the association between challenging social and physical neighborhood conditions and increased pain prevalence may reflect the impact of neighborhood conditions on health behaviors and attitudes, such as physical activity 38 .…”

“…Social and physical neighborhood conditions influence health behaviors and attitudes that impact pain. 3,10,18,20,[34][35][36][37] Our findings of the association between challenging social and physical neighborhood conditions and increased pain prevalence may reflect the impact of neighborhood conditions on health behaviors and attitudes, such as physical activity. 38 Neighborhood characteristics impact youth (and parent) attitudes about physical activity, which in turn predicts level of physical activity in youth, such that positive attitude predicts increased activity and negative attitudes predict decreased activity.…”

“…Growing up in challenging neighborhood environments may contribute to a state of chronic stress, which is implicated in the development and maintenance of chronic pain 7–9 . Challenging neighborhood conditions are associated with increased chronic stress burden in youth 26,30,35–37 . Understanding causes of stress is critical for youth with chronic pain as it is both common and clinically impactful (increasing stress is associated with functional impairment, anxiety, depression, and quality of life) 8,9,34 .…”

“…Understanding causes of stress is critical for youth with chronic pain as it is both common and clinically impactful (increasing stress is associated with functional impairment, anxiety, depression, and quality of life) 8,9,34 . The relationship between stress and chronic pediatric pain has primarily been investigated at the individual level (eg, adverse childhood experiences, physiological (hyperarousal, Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-activation), cognitive (catastrophizing), psychological (depression, anxiety), but little is known about societal and environmental sources of stress 5,26,33,37,39–43 . In the general population, neighborhood social support is known to contribute to stress when poor and buffer against stress when robust 7,35 .…”

“…[7][8][9] Challenging neighborhood conditions are associated with increased chronic stress burden in youth. 26,30,[35][36][37] Understanding causes of stress is critical for youth with chronic pain as it is both common and clinically impactful (increasing stress is associated with functional impairment, anxiety, depression, and quality of life). 8,9,34 The relationship between stress and chronic pediatric pain has primarily been investigated at the individual level (eg, adverse childhood experiences, physiological (hyperarousal, Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-activation), cognitive (catastrophizing), psychological (depression, anxiety), but little is known about societal and environmental sources of stress.…”