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Updated: Dec 21, 2025
Author Spotlight: An Economic and Efficient Method for Quantitative Evaluation of Bone Microarchitecture in a Murine Osteoporosis Model
Published on: September 8, 2023
Interaction of bone and brain: osteocalcin and cognition
Misa Nakamura1,2, Masakazu Imaoka1,2, Masatoshi Takeda2
1Department of Rehabilitation, Osaka Kawasaki Rehabilitation University, Kaizuka, Osaka, Japan.
Introduction:
Bone has conventionally been considered to be a passive organ that only receives external control, but according to recent findings, it has become clear that bone is an endocrine organ that actively regulates systemic metabolism through osteocalcin (OC).
Methods:
We focus on the relationship between the brain and bone and summarize the effects of OC on cognitive function as well as the association between OC and improved cognitive function through exercise.
Results:
The findings suggest that the decrease in OC produced by bone is responsible for the decrease in cognitive function associated with aging. Furthermore, positive effect of improving cognitive function can generally be recognized in exercise interventions conducted for healthy elderly people and those with MCI, and moderate exercise is particularly effective for dementia prevention.
Conclusion:
The improving bone health with aging may exert beneficial effects on cognition.
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