Molecular mechanisms of mild exercise enhance cognitive function : Developing a novel exercise protocol for the mind

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23240091
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Sports science
• Research Institution: University of Tsukuba
• Principal Investigator: SOYA Hideaki 筑波大学, 体育系, 教授 (50221346)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): KUWABARA Tomoko 独立行政法人産業技術総合研究所, 幹細胞工学センター, 研究員 (90358391) ; KAWATO Suguru 東京大学, 総合文化研究科, 教授 (50169736) ; LIU Yu-Fan 筑波大学, 体育系, 研究員 (90599680)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 低強度運動 / 海馬 / 認知機能 / 神経新生 / アストロサイト / ニューロステロイド / マイクロアレイ / IPA解析

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Physical exercise has a powerful impact on the brain as well as muscles. Especially, it is well known that exercise enhances hippocampal neurogenesis and function. Currently, we have demonstrated that mild exercise is enough to enhance hippocampal plasticity. However, the molecular mechanisms of mild exercise enhance hippocampal function is unknown. To address this issue, we examined what factors and pathways regulate the exercise effects. Our results showed that the neurotrophic factor from astrocyte and neurosteroid synthesized in hippocampus regulated the mild exercise-induced neurogenesis. Furthermore, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis algorithms revealed that the mild exercise-influenced genes were principally related to lipid metabolism and protein synthesis. These evidences might serve in further elucidating the mechanism behind mild exercise induced cognitive gain.

Free Research Field

運動生化学