Changes in stress pathways as a possible mechanism of aerobic exercise training on brain health: a scoping review of existing studies
Physical activity (PA) in the form of aerobic exercise (AE) preserves and improves neurocognitive function across the lifespan. However, a mechanistic understanding of the pathways by which aerobic exercise impacts brain health is still lacking, particularly with respect to stress-related pathways....
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2023.1273981/full |
| _version_ | 1827795774798299136 |
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| author | Cristina Molina-Hidalgo Chelsea M. Stillman Audrey M. Collins Daniel Velazquez-Diaz Daniel Velazquez-Diaz Hayley S. Ripperger Jermon A. Drake Peter J. Gianaros Anna L. Marsland Kirk I. Erickson Kirk I. Erickson |
| author_facet | Cristina Molina-Hidalgo Chelsea M. Stillman Audrey M. Collins Daniel Velazquez-Diaz Daniel Velazquez-Diaz Hayley S. Ripperger Jermon A. Drake Peter J. Gianaros Anna L. Marsland Kirk I. Erickson Kirk I. Erickson |
| author_sort | Cristina Molina-Hidalgo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Physical activity (PA) in the form of aerobic exercise (AE) preserves and improves neurocognitive function across the lifespan. However, a mechanistic understanding of the pathways by which aerobic exercise impacts brain health is still lacking, particularly with respect to stress-related pathways. One mechanistic hypothesis is that AE improves neurocognitive health in part by modifying circulating levels of stress-related hormones and signaling factors associated with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and autonomic nervous system (ANS), as commonly measured by the biomarkers cortisol (CORT) and salivary α-amylase (sAA). Thus, this hypothesis predicts that changes in stress biomarkers, such as CORT and sAA, are possible explanatory pathways mediating the positive effects of AE on neurocognitive health. In the present review article, we provide a summary of available studies examining the possibility that exercise-induced changes to stress biomarkers could partly account for exercise-related improvements in neurocognitive health. Our review indicates that despite the intuitive appeal of this hypothesis, there is insufficient evidence available to conclude that chronic and habitual AE affects neurocognitive health by altering stress biomarker pathways. The cross-sectional nature of the majority of reviewed studies highlights the need for well-controlled studies to adequately test this hypothesis. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T18:55:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1739e2dc96dd4086a127c7538ee88ae6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T18:55:14Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-1739e2dc96dd4086a127c7538ee88ae62023-10-11T05:00:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2023-10-011410.3389/fphys.2023.12739811273981Changes in stress pathways as a possible mechanism of aerobic exercise training on brain health: a scoping review of existing studiesCristina Molina-Hidalgo0Chelsea M. Stillman1Audrey M. Collins2Daniel Velazquez-Diaz3Daniel Velazquez-Diaz4Hayley S. Ripperger5Jermon A. Drake6Peter J. Gianaros7Anna L. Marsland8Kirk I. Erickson9Kirk I. Erickson10AdventHealth Research Institute, Neuroscience Institute, Orlando, FL, United StatesDepartment of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United StatesAdventHealth Research Institute, Neuroscience Institute, Orlando, FL, United StatesAdventHealth Research Institute, Neuroscience Institute, Orlando, FL, United StatesExPhy Research Group, Department of Physical Education, University of Cadiz, Cadiz, SpainDepartment of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United StatesDepartment of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United StatesDepartment of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United StatesDepartment of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United StatesAdventHealth Research Institute, Neuroscience Institute, Orlando, FL, United StatesDepartment of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United StatesPhysical activity (PA) in the form of aerobic exercise (AE) preserves and improves neurocognitive function across the lifespan. However, a mechanistic understanding of the pathways by which aerobic exercise impacts brain health is still lacking, particularly with respect to stress-related pathways. One mechanistic hypothesis is that AE improves neurocognitive health in part by modifying circulating levels of stress-related hormones and signaling factors associated with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and autonomic nervous system (ANS), as commonly measured by the biomarkers cortisol (CORT) and salivary α-amylase (sAA). Thus, this hypothesis predicts that changes in stress biomarkers, such as CORT and sAA, are possible explanatory pathways mediating the positive effects of AE on neurocognitive health. In the present review article, we provide a summary of available studies examining the possibility that exercise-induced changes to stress biomarkers could partly account for exercise-related improvements in neurocognitive health. Our review indicates that despite the intuitive appeal of this hypothesis, there is insufficient evidence available to conclude that chronic and habitual AE affects neurocognitive health by altering stress biomarker pathways. The cross-sectional nature of the majority of reviewed studies highlights the need for well-controlled studies to adequately test this hypothesis.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2023.1273981/fullcortisolsalivary alpha-amylasephysical activityHPA axisANS |
| spellingShingle | Cristina Molina-Hidalgo Chelsea M. Stillman Audrey M. Collins Daniel Velazquez-Diaz Daniel Velazquez-Diaz Hayley S. Ripperger Jermon A. Drake Peter J. Gianaros Anna L. Marsland Kirk I. Erickson Kirk I. Erickson Changes in stress pathways as a possible mechanism of aerobic exercise training on brain health: a scoping review of existing studies Frontiers in Physiology cortisol salivary alpha-amylase physical activity HPA axis ANS |
| title | Changes in stress pathways as a possible mechanism of aerobic exercise training on brain health: a scoping review of existing studies |
| title_full | Changes in stress pathways as a possible mechanism of aerobic exercise training on brain health: a scoping review of existing studies |
| title_fullStr | Changes in stress pathways as a possible mechanism of aerobic exercise training on brain health: a scoping review of existing studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes in stress pathways as a possible mechanism of aerobic exercise training on brain health: a scoping review of existing studies |
| title_short | Changes in stress pathways as a possible mechanism of aerobic exercise training on brain health: a scoping review of existing studies |
| title_sort | changes in stress pathways as a possible mechanism of aerobic exercise training on brain health a scoping review of existing studies |
| topic | cortisol salivary alpha-amylase physical activity HPA axis ANS |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2023.1273981/full |
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