Effects of Physical Exercise on Neuroinflammation, Neuroplasticity, Neurodegeneration, and Behavior

Exercise has been proven multiple times to be helpful in recovery. Who the hell is going to write up a stroke protocol for this? Or are you as a survivor going to have to figure this out on your own?
http://nnr.sagepub.com/content/early/2014/12/11/1545968314562108.abstract

1. Martina Svensson, MSc1
2. Jan Lexell, MD, PhD2,3
3. Tomas Deierborg, PhD1

1. ¹Department of Experimental Medical Sciences, Experimental Neuroinflammation Laboratory, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
2. ²Department of Health Sciences, Rehabilitation Medicine Research Group, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
3. ³Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine, Skane University Hospital, Lund, Sweden

1. Tomas Deierborg, Experimental Neuroinflammation Laboratory, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, BMC B11, Lund 221 84, Sweden. Email: tomas.deierborg@med.lu.se

Abstract

Physical exercise is a cornerstone in the management of many neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and stroke. However, much of its beneficial effects on improving motor functions and cognition as well as decreasing neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation are not yet well understood. The obvious limitations of studying the protective mechanisms behind exercise, for example, brain plasticity and neurodegeneration, could be overcome by generating novel animal models of neurodegenerative disorders. In this narrative review, we discuss the beneficial effects of exercise performed in animal models of neurodegenerative disorders and how the results from animal studies can be used in clinical settings. From preclinical studies, the positive effects of exercise have been related to increased levels of neurotrophic factors, elevated expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines, and reduced levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and activated microglia. It is clear that parameters influencing the effect of exercise, such as intensity, still remain to be investigated in animal studies in order to find the optimal program that can be translated into exercise interventions for patients with neurodegenerative diseases.