Physical exercise induces hippocampal neurogenesis and prevents cognitive decline

• Published in: Behavioural brain research Vol. 317; pp. 332 - 339
• Main Authors: Ma, Chun-Lian, Ma, Xiao-Tang, Wang, Jin-Ju, Liu, Hua, Chen, Yan-Fang, Yang, Yi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.01.2017
• Subjects: Aging; Animals; Brain plasticity; Cognition; Cognition Disorders - prevention & control; Exercise; Hippocampus - cytology; Hippocampus - physiology; Humans; Nerve Net - physiology; Neurodegenerative disease; Neurogenesis; Neurogenesis - physiology; Aging; Neurodegenerative disease; Brain plasticity; Cognition; Exercise; Neurogenesis
• ISSN: 0166-4328; 1872-7549
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2016.09.067

•Hippocampal neurogenesis reduction accompanied with cognitive decline happens in aging-related neurodegenerative diseases.•We review the integration of new born neurons and the roles of physical exercise induces hippocampal neurogenesis in humans and rodents.•Physical exercise has emerged as an effective, low-cost, and low-tech way for prevention or slowdown of cognitive decline. Accumulating evidence from animal and human research indicate that adult hippocampal neurogenesis plays a key role in cognition. Meanwhile, cognitive decline is well known to associate with ageing-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). Therefore, prevention of hippocampal neurogenesis reduction should be critical for these diseases. Physical exercise, a potent enhancer of adult hippocampal neurogenesis, has emerged as a potential therapy or an adjunctive therapeutic strategy for cognitive decline. In this review, we discuss the recent findings on hippocampal neurogenesis and the incorporation of new born neurons into the neuronal network in humans and in rodents. By focusing on hippocampal neurogenesis, we illustrate the role and possible mechanisms of physical exercise in cognition preservation.