Effect of Exercise on Neurodegeneration in Neurological Disorders

Demand your doctor find out exactly how much exercise you should be getting. You do want to not be in the 33% of stroke survivors that get dementia.
http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-04111-7_5

• Akhlaq A. Farooqui

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Abstract

Exercise induces neuroprotection not only by increasing blood flow throughout the brain, elevating levels of neurotrophins and neurotransmitters, inducing neurogenesis in the hippocampus, and increasing neuroplasticity, but also by decreasing brain atrophy, reducing neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress. Molecular mechanisms and signal transduction pathways by which exercise exerts its beneficial effects are not fully understood. However, it is becoming increasingly evident that exercise upregulates the expression of BDNF, a growth factor, which promotes synaptic plasticity and cognition. In addition, physical activity reduces blood pressure, obesity, and type II diabetes, which are risk factors for stroke, AD, PD, and depression. In animal models of stroke, AD, PD, and depression, exercise produces beneficial effect by reducing levels of proinflammatory lipid mediators and retarding the accumulation of abnormal proteins, such as β-amyloid in animal models of AD and α-synuculin in animal models of PD.