Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Ph. D Student, Department of Exercise Physiology, Marvdasht, Islamic Azad University, Marvdasht, Iran
2 Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, National University of Skills (NUS), Tehran, Iran.
3 Associate professor,Department of Exercise Physiology, Ker.C., Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran
Abstract
Background: Physical activity and exercise are recognized as effective strategies for improving neurological and psychological health. This review study aimed to analyze the impact of exercise on key biomarkers of the nervous system, including amyloid beta protein, tau protein, BDNF, inflammatory cytokines, and lactate, and to investigate the underlying mechanisms.
Materials and Methods: This is a narrative review study conducted using library research. Searches were performed in PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases using specialized keywords in May 2024. From a total of 40 identified articles, following the application of inclusion and exclusion criteria and quality assessment using the CASP checklist, 9 valid articles including laboratory, clinical, and review studies were selected for final analysis.
Results: The results indicated that aerobic and resistance exercises positively impact the nervous system by stimulating neurotrophic pathways, enhancing neuroplasticity, reducing inflammation, and improving neurochemical balance. In aerobic exercise, metabolic-molecular mechanisms including lactate, cathepsin B, irisin, and kynurenine pathways play a dominant role, while in resistance exercise, neuromuscular and hormonal mechanisms including irisin secretion and acute IGF-1 increase are more prominent. These effects lead to a reduction in symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases, enhancement of memory and learning, and improvement of mood, emphasizing the importance of personalizing the intensity and type of exercises.
Conclusion: Exercise is recognized as an effective method for improving nervous system health and managing neurological and psychological disorders. Aerobic exercise exerts its effects through metabolic-molecular mechanisms, while resistance exercise acts through neuromuscular and hormonal mechanisms; combining both types yields the strongest effects on neural biomarkers. However, heterogeneity in training protocols and the limited number of human studies highlight the need for further research.
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