Does intensity or youth affect the neurobiological effect of exercise on major depressive disorder?
Henning Budde1, Bruna Velasques2, Pedro Ribeiro2
1Faculty of Human Sciences, Medical School Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany; Physical Activity, Physical Education, Health and Sport Research Centre (PAPESH), Sports Science Department, School of Science and Engineering, Reykjavik University, Reykjavik, Iceland; Lithuanian Sports University, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Abstract:
The purpose of this commentary is to discuss the different neurobiological effects of exercise on major depressive disorder (MDD) in children and adolescents and to provide additional explanations to this well written systematic review. This commentary highlights the effects of exercise on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which plays a crucial role in MDD. We address the questions of whether age and different exercise intensities may provide additional information on the neurobiological effects of acute or chronic exercise on MDD. Previous findings clearly suggest that the etiology of MDD is complex and multifaceted, involving numerous neurobiological systems, which are additionally influenced by these two factors.
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