Effects of physical exercise on memory in type 2 diabetes: a brief review

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a metabolic disorder that can lead to memory impairment. T2D main features are insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. Physical exercise is a non-pharmacological intervention that can regulate glycemic levels and fight insulin resistance in T2D, but whether it influences memory has been discussed. There are 2 main types of physical exercise: aerobic exercise and resistance exercise. Here, we review about the consequences of different physical exercise protocols on memory in diabetic subjects and animal models of T2D. Physical exercise, aerobic or resistance training, most of the times, is a capable agent to prevent and treat memory loss on diabetic subjects and animal models of T2D. However, whether aerobic and resistance training combined improve memory in subjects with T2D remains controversial. Regarding animal models of T2D, aerobic and resistance training have been showed to be capable to prevent and treat memory loss. Acute and chronic protocols of exercise, generally, induce positive physiological responses and adaptations in T2D, such as a better glucose control. The ideal physical exercise protocol that will produce the best benefits to diabetic subjects and to animal models of T2D has not been described yet. A variety of combination between intensity, volume, frequency, and duration of the physical exercise protocol on future studies is necessary to both diabetic subjects and animal models of T2D to determine the best protocol that will induce more benefits on memory in T2D.