Recently, an article entitled "Joint effects of adult neurogenesis and BDNF mimicry on cognition in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease" was published in the top journal Science, which revealed the mechanism of "exercise delaying Alzheimer's disease" and proved that exercise can promote the regeneration of brain nerve cells, thus improving the cognitive function of the brain.
Previous studies have shown that insisting on exercise can reduce the risk of memory defects in the future. April, 20 18, a 40-year study on more than 1000 Swedish women showed that the average delay time for people with high cardiopulmonary health to develop dementia was 9.5 years. The study was published in the journal Neurology. However, this study cannot rule out other factors that may affect the risk of dementia, including genes and other healthy lifestyles. In addition, this study did not reveal the actual impact of exercise on the brain.
In order to understand the mechanism behind "Exercise Delays Alzheimer's Disease", the author takes mice with Alzheimer's disease (AD) as a model to study. Because rodents are more persuasive than humans. In the study of AD mice, it is found that mouse exercise can reduce the protein spots accumulated in the brain. At the same time, compared with sedentary mice, sick mice who exercise regularly perform better in a series of memory tests.
How good is exercise for the brain?
First of all, exercise can help the brain produce new neurons. Hippocampus is a key area of learning and memory in the brain, which contains neural progenitor cells responsible for generating new cells. Recently, there is still controversy about whether new neurons can be produced in human life. In fact, studies on rodents show that the formation of nerve cells in adulthood helps to maintain some keen cognitive skills. Some rodent studies have linked regular exercise with neurogenesis. For example, mice running on wheels seem to double the number of surviving newborn hippocampal neurons in the brain.
Secondly, exercise helps to improve the level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) protein. This factor can promote neurogenesis and reduce inflammation in the diseased brain. The latest research shows that although mice have produced new brain cells, it seems that their memory has not improved. Only when they receive additional gene therapy-adding genes that increase BDNF protein levels-will they beat other untreated control mice in memory tests.