Physical Activity and Neurodegenerative Diseases: Potential Role in Prevention and Therapy

Physical activity and exercise are low-cost interventions in primary and secondary prevention of several noncommunicable disease (e.g. cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney disease, neurodegenerative and neurovascular disease). In the context of demographic change, the relative and absolute numbers of patients with neurological, especially neurodegenerative disease, will increase. Based on missing causal therapies and high costs, non-pharmacological (e.g. physical activity) approaches for healthy aging are gaining attention. Epidemiological, observational, and randomized controlled studies have shown that physical activity can enhance brain plasticity and improve cognitive vitality over lifespan. However, the underlying neurobiological mechanisms are still largely unknown. Physical activity can influence different risk factors for neurovascular and neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. arterial hypertension, obesity). Moreover, physical activity can induce cellular and molecular changes (level 1) followed by structural and functionals brain changes (level 2) and/or behavioural adaptations (level 3). In this clinical review we summarize the role of physical activity in the prevention and therapy of neurological disease.