Lifestyle Drives Astroglial Plasticity Toward Cognitive Improvement: Roles of Physical Exercise, Environmental...

Lifestyle, including physical exercise, diet, intellectual and social engagement, and sleep, represents a powerful nonpharmacological alternative to improve cognitive performance or mitigate cognitive decline associated with ageing or neuropathological conditions. Among brain cells, astrocytes, the most abundant glial cell, are involved in virtually all brain functions, from neurogenesis and synaptogenesis to brain homeostasis, defence, and cognition. Recent studies demonstrate that astrocytes are very sensitive to lifestyle changes, undergoing morphological, molecular, and functional remodelling. These adaptations include enhanced astrocyte complexity, increased synaptic coverage, modulation of inflammatory pathways, and changes in gene expression. Such modifications, accompanied by cognitive improvements, are observed in models of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, depression, and cerebral ischaemia, as well as in sleep quality and dietary patterns-making astrocytes key elements in lifestyle-induced neural plasticity driving brain health and cognitive improvements. Here, we discuss astroglial roles in translating lifestyle benefits into cognitive improvements; such mechanisms may represent a therapeutic target to prevent or even mitigate cognitive dysfunction associated with ageing or neurological conditions, ultimately contributing to quality of life.