The Influence of Exercise on Cognitive Abilities

Abstract

Scientific evidence based on neuroimaging approaches over the last decade has demonstrated the efficacy of physical activity improving cognitive health across the human lifespan. Aerobic fitness spares age-related loss of brain tissue during aging, and enhances functional aspects of higher order regions involved in the control of cognition. More active or higher fit individuals are capable of allocating greater attentional resources toward the environment and are able to process information more quickly. These data are suggestive that aerobic fitness enhances cognitive strategies enabling to respond effectively to an imposed challenge with a better yield in task performance. In turn, animal studies have shown that exercise has a benevolent action on health and plasticity of the nervous system. New evidence indicates that exercise exerts its effects on cognition by affecting molecular events related to the management of energy metabolism and synaptic plasticity. An important instigator in the molecular machinery stimulated by exercise is brain-derived neurotrophic factor, which acts at the interface of metabolism and plasticity. Recent studies show that exercise collaborates with other aspects of lifestyle to influence the molecular substrates of cognition. In particular, select dietary factors share similar mechanisms with exercise, and in some cases they can complement the action of exercise. Therefore, exercise and dietary management appear as a noninvasive and effective strategy to counteract neurological and cognitive disorders.

Challenging Oneself Intermittently to Improve Health

“…It induces the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) which activates receptors in neurons and neural stem cells. BDNF plays critical roles in learning and memory (Gomez-Pinilla and Hillman, 2013), and may mediate the improved cognitive function that is observed in runners compared to non-runner rats and mice (Marosi and Mattson, 2014). The mechanisms by which running 'strengthens' synapses involves binding of BDNF to a receptor called TrkB resulting in the activation of the kinases Akt and ERK (extracellular signal regulated kinase), and the downstream transcription factors cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB) and NF-kB (Kuipers and Bramham, 2006;Gavalda et al, 2009;Chen et al, 2012).…”

Modulation of synaptic plasticity by short-term aerobic exercise in adult mice

“…Scientific evidence based on neuroimaging approaches over the last decade has demonstrated the efficacy of physical activity improving cognitive health across the human lifespan [2]. Moreover physical exercise has positive effects on general health and reduce the incidence of pathological conditions such as diabetes, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease [3,4].…”

Coordinated and Aerobic Exercise do not Improve Attention in Graduate Students

“…Acute bouts of aerobic exercise have been found to positively affect cognitive function in various age groups [1][2][3]. A review of studies done with adults provides strong support for the role of submaximal aerobic exercise of 60 min or less in facilitating aspects of information processing and cognitive function [4], while a meta-analysis of data from studies with school age children (4-18 years) suggests a positive relationship between physical activity and cognitive performance in a number of specific categories [5].…”

“…A review of studies done with adults provides strong support for the role of submaximal aerobic exercise of 60 min or less in facilitating aspects of information processing and cognitive function [4], while a meta-analysis of data from studies with school age children (4-18 years) suggests a positive relationship between physical activity and cognitive performance in a number of specific categories [5]. The exact mechanisms underlying the positive impact of acute exercise on cognitive function remain unclear; however, it has been hypothesized that they could be associated with changes in metabolism in the brain, increased cerebral blood flow, increased arousal, and improved relaxation [1].…”