(Neuro) Peptides, Physical Activity, and Cognition.
Juho Autio1, Ville Stenbäck1,2, Dominique D Gagnon1,3,4
1Institute of Biomedicine, Medical Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, 90220 Oulu, Finland.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
|August 14, 2020
Summary
Regular physical activity (PA) benefits brain health by enhancing cognitive functions. This review explores how specific peptides, like insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), mediate these positive effects, though more research is needed for other neuropeptides.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Exercise Physiology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Regular physical activity (PA) is linked to improved cognitive function and prevention of neurodegenerative diseases.
- The precise mechanisms and mediators of PA's brain benefits remain incompletely understood.
- Peptides, released by various tissues, act as signaling molecules in the central nervous system (CNS).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of the association between PA and cognitive function.
- To focus on the role of specific (neuro)peptides as potential mediators of PA's cognitive benefits.
- To identify knowledge gaps regarding peptide involvement in PA-induced cognitive improvements.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on studies investigating PA, cognition, and (neuro)peptides.
- Definition of peptides as molecules <100 amino acids, excluding myokines.
- Exclusion of tachykinins, somatostatin, and opioid peptides due to lack of evidence for PA influence.
Main Results:
- Physical activity is associated with increased peripheral insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels.
- Elevated serum IGF-1 levels correlate with enhanced cognitive performance.
- Other neuropeptides like neuropeptide Y (NPY), ghrelin, galanin, and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) may also mediate PA's cognitive benefits, but supporting literature is limited.
Conclusions:
- Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is a likely mediator of physical activity's positive effects on cognition.
- Further research is required to elucidate the roles of neuropeptide Y (NPY), ghrelin, galanin, and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in mediating PA's cognitive benefits.
- Understanding these peptide pathways could inform targeted interventions for brain health.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Cognitive Enhancers: Cholinesterase Inhibitors and NMDA Receptor Antagonists
425
Cognitive enhancers, also known as "smart drugs," are substances used to enhance memory, mental alertness, and concentration. These can be natural or synthetic and improve cognition in conditions like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases. Some common examples include caffeine, amphetamines, methylphenidate, modafinil, arecoline, donepezil, vortioxetine, and piracetam. These enhancers work on the principle of synaptic plasticity and altered circuit function.
425
01:31Neurotransmitters
2.3K
Neurotransmitters are essential chemical messengers within the nervous system, facilitating the communication between neurons. These chemical messengers, varying in function and effect, are critical for sustaining various aspects of neurological health and emotional well-being.
2.3K
01:23Role of Neurotransmitters in Memory
2.2K
Neurotransmitters are integral to the brain's communication system, enabling neurons to transmit signals across synapses. This chemical exchange underpins various cognitive functions, including memory processes. The role of neurotransmitters in memory is multifaceted, influencing the encoding, consolidation, and retrieval of memories through their action on different neural circuits.
Glutamate and Synaptic Plasticity
Glutamate, the brain's main excitatory neurotransmitter, is...
Glutamate and Synaptic Plasticity
Glutamate, the brain's main excitatory neurotransmitter, is...
2.2K
01:21Drugs Affecting Neurotransmitter Release or Uptake
1.4K
Certain drugs can affect how neurotransmitters called catecholamines, are released or taken back up in the adrenergic neuron. They can have different effects on the body's sympathetic transmission. Reserpine, a natural compound found in the Rauwolfia shrub, blocks a transporter called vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT), which leads to a buildup of catecholamines in the cell and reduces sympathetic transmission. Another drug called guanethidine works in multiple ways, including blocking...
1.4K
01:26Neurochemical Transmission: Sites of Drug Action
3.3K
Neurochemical transmission, the conduction of electrical impulses between neurons mediated by neurotransmitters, plays a vital role in various physiological processes. Autonomic drugs exert their effects by modulating neurotransmission within the autonomic nervous system. For instance, drugs such as hemicholinium block the precursor uptake necessary for synthesizing acetylcholine, an essential autonomic neurotransmitter. Following synthesis, neurotransmitters are stored in vesicles. Metyrosine...
3.3K
01:30Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacological Actions
1.3K
Indirect-acting cholinergic agonists, also known as anticholinesterases, exert their pharmacological effects by enhancing cholinergic transmission in various body parts, including the neuromuscular junction, autonomic cholinergic synapses, and the brain.
At the neuromuscular junction, these agents work by inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, allowing it to remain bound to the receptor and bind to nearby receptors. This process leads to repetitive firing of the endplate, causing muscle...
At the neuromuscular junction, these agents work by inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, allowing it to remain bound to the receptor and bind to nearby receptors. This process leads to repetitive firing of the endplate, causing muscle...
1.3K