TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of physical exercise on cognitive functioning and wellbeing
T2 - Biological and psychological benefits
AU - Mandolesi, Laura
AU - Polverino, Arianna
AU - Montuori, Simone
AU - Foti, Francesca
AU - Ferraioli, Giampaolo
AU - Sorrentino, Pierpaolo
AU - Sorrentino, Giuseppe
PY - 2018/4/27
Y1 - 2018/4/27
N2 - Much evidence shows that physical exercise (PE) is a strong gene modulator that induces structural and functional changes in the brain, determining enormous benefit on both cognitive functioning and wellbeing. PE is also a protective factor for neurodegeneration. However, it is unclear if such protection is granted through modifications to the biological mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration or through better compensation against attacks. This concise review addresses the biological and psychological positive effects of PE describing the results obtained on brain plasticity and epigenetic mechanisms in animal and human studies, in order to clarify how to maximize the positive effects of PE while avoiding negative consequences, as in the case of exercise addiction.
AB - Much evidence shows that physical exercise (PE) is a strong gene modulator that induces structural and functional changes in the brain, determining enormous benefit on both cognitive functioning and wellbeing. PE is also a protective factor for neurodegeneration. However, it is unclear if such protection is granted through modifications to the biological mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration or through better compensation against attacks. This concise review addresses the biological and psychological positive effects of PE describing the results obtained on brain plasticity and epigenetic mechanisms in animal and human studies, in order to clarify how to maximize the positive effects of PE while avoiding negative consequences, as in the case of exercise addiction.
KW - Brain
KW - Cognition
KW - Epigenetic mechanisms
KW - Physical exercise
KW - Wellbeing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85046095976&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85046095976&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00509
DO - 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00509
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85046095976
SN - 1664-1078
VL - 9
JO - Frontiers in Psychology
JF - Frontiers in Psychology
IS - APR
M1 - 509
ER -