Neuropsychological insights into exercise addiction: the role of brain structure and self-efficacy in middle-older individuals

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between exercise addiction and brain structure in middle-older individuals, and to examine the role of self-efficacy in mediating physiological changes associated with exercise addiction. A total of 133 patients exhibiting symptoms of exercise addiction were recruited for this study (male = 43, age 52.86 ± 11.78 years). Structural magnetic resonance imaging and behavioral assessments were administered to assess the study population. Voxel-based morphological analysis was conducted using SPM12 software. Mediation analysis was employed to explore the potential neuropsychological mechanism of self-efficacy in relation to exercise addiction. The findings revealed a positive correlation between exercise addiction and gray matter volume in the right inferior temporal region and the right hippocampus. Conversely, there was a negative correlation with gray matter volume in the left Rolandic operculum. Self-efficacy was found to indirectly influence exercise addiction by affecting right inferior temporal region gray matter volume and acted as a mediating variable in the relationship between the gray matter volume of right inferior temporal region and exercise addiction. In summary, this study elucidates the link between exercise addiction and brain structure among middle-older individuals. It uncovers the intricate interplay among exercise addiction, brain structure, and psychological factors. These findings enhance our comprehension of exercise addiction and offer valuable insights for the development of interventions and treatments.

Neuroplasticity to autophagy cross-talk in a therapeutic effect of physical exercises and irisin in ADHD

Adaptive neuroplasticity is a pivotal mechanism for healthy brain development and maintenance, as well as its restoration in disease- and age-associated decline. Management of mental disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) needs interventions stimulating adaptive neuroplasticity, beyond conventional psychopharmacological treatments. Physical exercises are proposed for the management of ADHD, and also depression and aging because of evoked brain neuroplasticity. Recent progress in understanding the mechanisms of muscle-brain cross-talk pinpoints the role of the myokine irisin in the mediation of pro-cognitive and antidepressant activity of physical exercises. In this review, we discuss how irisin, which is released in the periphery as well as derived from brain cells, may interact with the mechanisms of cellular autophagy to provide protein recycling and regulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling via glia-mediated control of BDNF maturation, and, therefore, support neuroplasticity. We propose that the neuroplasticity associated with physical exercises is mediated in part by irisin-triggered autophagy. Since the recent findings give objectives to consider autophagy-stimulating intervention as a prerequisite for successful therapy of psychiatric disorders, irisin appears as a prototypic molecule that can activate autophagy with therapeutic goals.

Physical activity and health: Findings from Finnish monozygotic twin pairs discordant for physical activity

Genetic and early environmental differences including early health habits associate with future health. To provide insight on the causal nature of these associations, monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs discordant for health habits provide an interesting natural experiment. Twin pairs discordant for leisure‐time physical activity (LTPA) in early adult life is thus a powerful study design to investigate the associations between long‐term LTPA and indicators of health and wellbeing. We have identified 17 LTPA discordant twin pairs from two Finnish twin cohorts and summarize key findings of these studies in this paper. The carefully characterized rare long‐term LTPA discordant MZ twin pairs have participated in multi‐dimensional clinical examinations. Key findings highlight that compared with less active twins in such MZ twin pairs, the twins with higher long‐term LTPA have higher physical fitness, reduced body fat, reduced visceral fat, reduced liver fat, increased lumen diameters of conduit arteries to the lower limbs, increased bone mineral density in loaded bone areas, and an increased number of large high‐density lipoprotein particles. The findings increase our understanding on the possible site‐specific and system‐level effects of long‐term LTPA.

Brain structural changes and the development of interference control in children with ADHD: The predictive value of physical activity and body mass index

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Children with ADHD show deficits in interference control during preadolescence.

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Abnormalities in gray-white matter ratio contributed contribute to these deficits.

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Higher physical activity and lower body mass index predict higher interference control.

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Gray-white matter ratio underlies the predictive value of body mass index.

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Brain structure does not explain the predictive value of physical activity.

Background

Children with ADHD face deficits in interference control due to abnormalities in brain structure. A low body mass index and high physical activity are factors promoting brain health and may have the potential to reduce ADHD-related cognitive deficits. We aimed to investigate the predictive values of ADHD, body mass index and physical activity for interference control and the potential mediation of these associations by brain structure.

Method

At 9 and 11 years, 4576 children with ADHD and neurotypical peers from the ABCD-cohort completed a Flanker task, anthropometric assessments and reported physical activity. Additionally, T1- and T2-weighted magnet resonance images were collected at both measurement time points.

Results

ADHD, lower physical activity and higher body mass index at baseline predicted lower interference control. Gray matter volume, surface area and gray-white matter ratio contributed to interference control. The longitudinal association between body mass index and interference control was mediated by gray-white-matter ratio. This mediating effect was stronger for children with ADHD than neurotypical peers and mainly restricted to regions associated with cognitive control.

Conclusion

The maintenance of a lower body mass index contributes to interference control by a tendency to normalize regional alterations in grey-white-matter ratio. Being compliant with physical activity also promises higher interference control, but brain structure does not seem to underlie this association.

Regional gray matter volume associated with exercise dependence: A voxel-based morphometry study

Although regular physical exercise has multiple positive benefits for the general population, excessive exercise may lead to exercise dependence (EXD), which is harmful to one's physical and mental health. Increasing evidence suggests that stress is a potential risk factor for the onset and development of EXD. However, little is known about the neural substrates of EXD and the underlying neuropsychological mechanism by which stress affects EXD. Herein, we investigate these issues in 86 individuals who exercise regularly by estimating their cortical gray matter volume (GMV) utilizing a voxel‐based morphometry method based on structural magnetic resonance imaging. Whole‐brain correlation analyses and prediction analyses showed negative relationships between EXD and GMV of the right orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), left subgenual cingulate gyrus (sgCG), and left inferior parietal lobe (IPL). Furthermore, mediation analyses found that the GMV of the right OFC was an important mediator between stress and EXD. Importantly, these results remained significant even when adjusting for sex, age, body mass index, family socioeconomic status, general intelligence and total intracranial volume, as well as depression and anxiety. Collectively, the results of the present study provide crucial evidence of the neuroanatomical basis of EXD and reveal a potential neuropsychological pathway in predicting EXD in which GMV mediates the relationship between stress and EXD.

Aerobic exercise, cardiorespiratory fitness, and the human hippocampus

The hippocampus is particularly susceptible to neurodegeneration. Physical activity, specifically increasing cardiorespiratory fitness via aerobic exercise, shows promise as a potential method for mitigating hippocampal decline in humans. Numerous studies have now investigated associations between the structure and function of the hippocampus and engagement in physical activity. Still, there remains continued debate and confusion about the relationship between physical activity and the human hippocampus. In this review, we describe the current state of the physical activity and exercise literature as it pertains to the structure and function of the human hippocampus, focusing on four magnetic resonance imaging measures: volume, diffusion tensor imaging, resting-state functional connectivity, and perfusion. We conclude that, despite significant heterogeneity in study methods, populations of interest, and scope, there are consistent positive findings, suggesting a promising role for physical activity in promoting hippocampal structure and function throughout the lifespan.

A Randomized Study on the Effects of Minds in Motion and Yoga on Motor Proficiency and Academic Skills Among Elementary School Children

BACKGROUND

Physical activity is critical for the healthy development and well-being of children. Specifically, physical activity is associated with improvements in coordination, balance, attention, and behavior among elementary school-aged children. However, for many children, particularly those belonging to minority groups, opportunities to engage in quality physical activity programs outside school settings are limited. The purpose of this study was to examine the whether a physical activity program called Minds in Motion (MiM) The Maze before school, as compared with yoga, meets the criteria of the Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program framework as a before-school program to improve overall physical activity and academic performance among elementary school-age students.

METHODS

A total of 48 children attending an urban public school with large minority representation in the Midwest were randomly assigned to MiM-The Maze or yoga. Participants were assessed on motor proficiency, behavior, balance, and academic skills before and after training. Training consisted of either yoga or MiM-The Maze 30 minutes per day before school, 5 times per week for 12 weeks.

RESULTS

MiM-The Maze and yoga group students showed significant improvements in academic skills.

CONCLUSIONS

MiM-The Maze is feasible and affordable before-school program to promote students' classroom behavior in elementary school students.

Physiology Understanding Week in a public middle school in Southern Indiana: exercise and health

The Physiology Understanding (PhUn) Week is a national outreach event sponsored by the American Physiological Society. Our PhUn team conducted an event for 551 students (12.5 ± 0.9 yr old) in a middle school in Indiana. The aims of this program were to: 1) teach about the negative consequences of inactivity on cardiovascular (CV) health and overall well-being; 2) help students to determine their own CV fitness level and design their fitness plan; and 3) test the hypothesis that students who are offered daily physical education (PE) classes are able to meet the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. The University of Louisville PhUn team visited the school during school hours to execute the outreach program to students enrolled in Health and PE as their course elective. During the event, students were educated about CV physiology and the effects of exercise on CV fitness and metabolism. Additionally, students were asked to completed a questionnaire about their physical activity behaviors outside the school. Students were also educated about ways to increase energy expenditure by 150 METy (units of metabolism for youth) per day during 7 days. CV fitness levels were estimated by using the PACER (Progressive Aerobic Cardiovascular Endurance Run) test, and students were asked to create a plan to increase energy expenditure daily. The results showed that 53% of the students did not perform enough physical activity outside school to meet the guidelines. In conclusion, the incorporation of PE in schools is critical to cultivate healthy lifestyles and decrease the sedentarism epidemic in the U.S.

Twin studies on the association of physical activity with cognitive and cerebral outcomes

Regular physical activity (PA) offers positive effects on the human body. However, the effects of PA on cognition and in the brain are less clear. In this paper, we narratively review the relationship of PA with cognition and dementia, first from general perspective and then through genetically informed studies on the topic. Then we move on to imaging studies on exercise and brain anatomy first by presenting an overall picture of the topic and then discussing brain imaging studies addressing PA and brain structure in twins in more detailed way. Regarding PA and cognition or dementia, genetically informed studies are uncommon, even though the relationship between PA and cognitive ageing has been extensively studied. It is challenging to find twin pairs discordant for PA and dementia. Concerning brain imaging studies, among PA discordant young adult twin pairs, the more active co-twins showed larger gray matter volumes in striatal, prefrontal, and hippocampal regions and in electrophysiological studies automatic deviance-detection processes differed in brain regions involved with sensorimotor, visual and memory functions.