Regular physical activity as a powerful neuropreventive tool to improve cognitive functions in Alzheimers disease

Simona Upīte, Jolanta Upīte, Sandra Rozenštoka

Research output: Contribution to conferenceAbstractpeer-review

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) represents an increasing challenge to public health care systems and affects approximately 47 million people worldwide. Despite enormous efforts in AD research, there is no effective treatment to delay gradual neuronal loss. Thus calling attention to novel ideas - the extension of scientific focus from treatment to prevention strategies. The purpose of this study is to advance our understanding about physical activity (PA) as a neuropreventive strategy for AD. A systematic search (2010-2020) of the PubMed, Science Direct, EBSCO, Scopus and Clinical Key was performed by using key terms: PA, prevention, cognitive impairment, AD. The search yielded up to 1000 records. After screening of the titles and abstracts, 137 records met the criteria. Both old and current studies present that PA plays a fundamental role by reducing the cognitive impairments and even in some cases slowing the progression of AD. Research from 2011 until 2020 shows that daily treadmill and wheel running exercises increase neuroprotective effects in various transgenic AD models. These studies demonstrates that PA can reduce oxidative stress, microglia activation, neuronal loss, Aβ burden and spatial memory loss. Additional in vivo studies indicates that PA can protect against neuroinflammation-related diseases, such as AD, significantly inhibited neuroinflammation. The results of extensive research studies demonstrate the potential role of the PA as a neuropreventive treatment of AD. These findings point out the need for further pre-clinical research to investigate the potential beneficial effects of PA in neurodegenerative disease models.
Original languageEnglish
Pages349
Publication statusPublished - 24 Mar 2021
EventRSU Research week 2021: Knowledge for Use in Practice - Rīga, Latvia
Duration: 24 Mar 202126 Mar 2021
https://rw2021.rsu.lv/conferences/knowledge-use-practice

Conference

ConferenceRSU Research week 2021: Knowledge for Use in Practice
Abbreviated titleRW2021
Country/TerritoryLatvia
CityRīga
Period24/03/2126/03/21
Internet address

Field of Science*

  • 3.3 Health sciences

Publication Type*

  • 3.4. Other publications in conference proceedings (including local)

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