Bidirectional Association between Physical Activity and Dopamine Across Adulthood-A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Exercise Physiology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Physical activity (PA) may influence neurotransmitter secretion, potentially reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms.
• Understanding the relationship between exercise and dopamine is crucial for mental health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the bidirectional effects of exercise on dopamine in adults.
• To analyze how physical activity influences dopamine and vice versa across the lifespan.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (December 2020).
• Inclusion of longitudinal and experimental studies on adults, examining exercise and dopamine.
• Analysis of articles in English, Portuguese, or Spanish, focusing on bidirectional effects.

Main Results:

• Robust evidence shows physical activity significantly affects dopamine.
• These effects are consistent across diverse participant characteristics, PA types, and dopamine analysis methods.
• Findings regarding dopamine's effect on physical activity were mixed.

Conclusions:

• Physical exercise has a well-established impact on dopamine.
• PA interventions show promise for preventing and treating mental health disorders.
• Physical activity represents a viable alternative for addressing mental health challenges.