Bidirectional Association between Physical Activity and Dopamine Across Adulthood-A Systematic Review

Effect of exercise detraining in cognitive functions of older adults: A systematic review

OBJECTIVE

Provide a synthesis of the current literature about the effects of detraining on cognitive functions in older adults.

METHODS

The PICOS acronym strategy was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and PsycINFO database. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses statement had been followed in the present study, in which the search was conducted on October 2023. The study selection consisted in original articles including older adults, detraining after training exercise period, use of tests or scales to measure cognitive function. The Downs and Black checklist had been used to assess the studies quality. Sample characteristics, type of previous training, detraining period, cognitive functions measurements and main results were extracted by 2 investigators.

RESULTS

From 1927 studies, 12 studies were included, being 11 studies identified via systematic research, and 1 study by citation search. Older adults, ranged from 60 to 87 years old, were assessed after detraining. The cognitive functions most evaluated were global cognition and executive functions. One study evaluated both cognitive outcome and cerebral blood flow. Most of the studies demonstrated a decline in the cognitive function after detraining.

CONCLUSION

Exercise detraining period, ranging from 10 days to 16 weeks, can effect negatively the cognitive function in older adults.

As We Were and As We Should Be, Combined Exercise Training in Adults With Schizophrenia: CORTEX-SP Study Part II

OBJECTIVE

To determine the changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and sleep quality following a supervised combined exercise (EX) program compared to a Treatment-As-Usual (TAU) and to analyze the relationship between the differences in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and HRQoL domains in people with schizophrenia (SZ).

METHODS

The SZ (n = 112, 41.3 ± 10.4 year) was randomly assigned into a TAU control group (n = 53) or EX-group (n = 59, 3 days/week). The 36-item Short-Form Health Survey questionnaire assessed HRQoL and the sleep quality analysis (accelerometry).

RESULTS

After the intervention (20 weeks), physical functioning (∆ = 12.9%), general health (∆ = 15.3%), mental health (∆ = 8.3%), physical component summary (PCS) (∆ = 5.1%), and sleep efficiency (∆ = 1.9%) increased (p < 0.05) in the EX, with no significant changes in the TAU for any domains studied. There were significant differences between groups whose EX showed improvements (p < 0.05) compared to TAU in physical functioning, general health, PCS, and sleep efficiency. A greater CRF was associated with better values in physical functioning, role-physical, bodily pain, general health, vitality, and PCS after the exercise program in SZ.

CONCLUSIONS

A 20-week supervised combined exercise intervention program for SZ increased sleep efficiency and physical functioning, general and mental health, and PCS scores. This could lead to a critical HRQoL change from how they were to how they should be.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03509597.

From movement to motivation: a proposed framework to understand the antidepressant effect of exercise

Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, exerting a profound negative impact on quality of life in those who experience it. Depression is associated with disruptions to several closely related neural and cognitive processes, including dopamine transmission, fronto-striatal brain activity and connectivity, reward processing and motivation. Physical activity, especially aerobic exercise, reduces depressive symptoms, but the mechanisms driving its antidepressant effects are poorly understood. Here we propose a novel hypothesis for understanding the antidepressant effects of exercise, centred on motivation, across different levels of explanation. There is robust evidence that aerobic exercise decreases systemic inflammation. Inflammation is known to reduce dopamine transmission, which in turn is strongly implicated in effort-based decision making for reward. Drawing on a broad range of research in humans and animals, we propose that by reducing inflammation and boosting dopamine transmission, with consequent effects on effort-based decision making for reward, exercise initially specifically improves 'interest-activity' symptoms of depression-namely anhedonia, fatigue and subjective cognitive impairment - by increasing propensity to exert effort. Extending this framework to the topic of cognitive control, we explain how cognitive impairment in depression may also be conceptualised through an effort-based decision-making framework, which may help to explain the impact of exercise on cognitive impairment. Understanding the mechanisms underlying the antidepressant effects of exercise could inform the development of novel intervention strategies, in particular personalised interventions and boost social prescribing.

Fat loss and muscle gain: The possible role of striatal dopaminergic tone in determining the efficacy of physical exercise

The effectiveness of exercise for obesity is contentious due to individual response variability. Owing to the roles of dopamine in motor functions, metabolism, and appetite, this study aimed to identify striatal dopamine as a predictor of variability in exercise response, specifically in terms of fat loss and muscle gain. Healthy non-exercising males completed an 8-week program, exercising 1 h, 4 days a week. Striatal dopaminergic tone was assessed by measuring dopamine transporter availability using technetium-99 m labelled tropane derivative, [99mTc]TRODAT-1 (TRODAT), single-photon emission computed tomography, and body composition (fat and muscles mass) was analysed using bioelectrical impedance. Lower baseline dopamine levels were associated with greater fat mass loss (r = 0.58, p = 0.006), percentage fat mass loss (r = 0.53, p = 0.013), and increase in muscle mass (β = -0.53, p = 0.035, after taking age and smoking status as covariates). These findings enhance our understanding of obesity neurobiology and exercise response variability, necessitating further research for targeted interventions based on dopaminergic profiles.

Impact of spa therapy on physical activity, sleep and heart rate variability among individuals with fibromyalgia: Results of an ancillary study

Spa therapy is recommended to manage symptoms of fibromyalgia, but the physiological mechanisms underlying this improvement have been poorly studied. In an original study, we explored the effect of a 3-week rheumatology spa treatment for fibromyalgia patients on quality of life and with a symptom severity questionnaire. We present here the results of an ancillary study which explored three secondary criteria using objective measurement methods: diurnal actimetry for physical activity analysis, nocturnal actimetry for sleep analysis and heart rate variability. Eighty-three fibromyalgia patients were randomized to participate in an immediate 3-week rheumatological spa therapy, either a start within 6 weeks after inclusion (interventional group, n = 39) or a delayed, start 6 months after inclusion (control group, n = 44). Patients were asked to wear an actimeter (n = 56) to assess diurnal physical activity and sleep quality and a 24-h Holter ECG (n = 60) to assess nocturnal heart rate variability at baseline, 3 months and 6 months after inclusion. Time spent in sedentary and light physical activity was reduced to ∼30 min at 6 months in the interventional group (P = 0.027). Sleep quality and heart rate variability were not improved. Spa therapy made it possible to reduce sedentary activities in patients' daily life for up to 6 months afterwards, concomitant with the improvement in quality of life, pain and fatigue as highlighted in the original Thermalgi study.

The Effects of Prescribed Physical and Cognitive Exercise on Life Satisfaction, Self-Efficacy and Mood States in Adults with Down Syndrome: The MinDSets Study

Down syndrome (DS) is characterised by a duplication of chromosome-21 and is linked to co-occurring physical and mental health conditions, including low self-efficacy and disturbed mood states. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of an eight-week prescribed physical and/or cognitive training intervention on measures of mood disturbance, life satisfaction and self-efficacy in a population of adults with DS. Eighty-three participants (age 27.1 ± 8.0 years) from across five continents volunteered. Participants were assigned using matched groups based upon performance in a modified six-minute walk test to either an exercise (EXE) 3 × 30 min of walking/jogging per week, cognitive training (COG) 6 × 20 min per week, a combined group (COM) or the control (CON) who did not complete any intervention. Profile of Mood States (POMS) were assessed using a five-point scale across 65 categories pre- and post-study as well as upon completion of each week of the intervention. In addition, Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and self-efficacy using the Generalised Self-Efficacy scale (GSE) were recorded before and after the intervention. GSE increased for all participants by 1.9 ± 5.2 (p = 0.002) from pre- to post-intervention, while POMS showed significant changes for the whole group from pre- to post-intervention for tension (p < 0.001), depression (p < 0.001) and for anger (p < 0.001). In addition, significant correlations were observed between SWLS and ΔTMD, Δtension, Δanger, and Δfatigue (p < 0.05) for EXE. Both COG and EXE provide a framework for empowering enhancements in life satisfaction, self-efficacy and mood states fostering improvements in quality of life.

Parent-child associations of sleep quality: is physical activity a confounder? The EPI-FAMILY health study

INTRODUCTION

The incidence of sleep deprivation has increased in pediatric populations, however, the relationship with physical activity (PA) remains uncertain and lacks evidence. Although some studies have shown that parents' lifestyle habits can influence this process, one point that requires further clarification in the literature is whether parents' sleep quality is linked to that of their children and whether parents' physical activity could play an important role in these possible relationships.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the relationship of sleep quality between parents and children and verify the role of physical activity in this association.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study. Sleep quality was assessed using the Mini Sleep Questionnaire. The amount of sleep was estimated by the number of hours slept. PA domains (occupational activities, leisure, and active commuting) were assessed using the Baecke questionnaire, while moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) was assessed with an accelerometer. Socioeconomic status was obtained through a questionnaire. The relationship of sleep quality between parents and children was carried out using hierarchical models with Binary Logistic Regression, where the factors were inserted one by one (1. unadjusted model; 2. sociodemographic variables; 3. children's PA; 4. parents' PA).

RESULTS

The study sample consisted of 102 children and adolescents (6-17 years), 92 mothers, and 69 fathers. Poor sleep quality of mothers was associated with their children's sleep quality (OR = 3.95; 95%CI = 1.33-11.38; P = 0.013). After inserting mothers' PA intensity into the final model, the associations remained significant (OR = 8.05; 1.33-48.59; P = 0.023). No relationship was observed between poor sleep quality of fathers and their children's sleep quality.

CONCLUSION

The relationship between poor sleep quality of mothers and that of their children remained significant, regardless of confounding variables.

Possible role of exercise therapy on depression: Effector neurotransmitters as key players

About 280 million people suffer from depression as the most common neurological disorder and the most common cause of death worldwide. Exercise with serotonin released in the brain by the 5-HT3-IGF-1 mechanism can lead to antidepressant effects. Swimming exercise has antidepressant effects by increasing the sensitivity of serotonin 5-HT2 receptors and postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors, increasing 5-HT and 5HIAA levels, increasing TPH and serotonin, and decreasing inflammatory levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α. Anaerobic and aerobic exercises increase beta-endorphin, enkephalin, and dynorphin and have antidepressant effects. Exercise by increasing dopamine, D1R, and D2R leads to the expression of BDNF and activation of TrkB and has antidepressant behavior. Exercise leads to a significant increase in GABAAR (γ2 and α2 subunits) and reduces neurodegenerative disorders caused by GABA imbalance through anti-inflammatory pathways. By increasing glutamate and PGC1α and reducing glutamatergic neurotoxicity, exercise enhances neurogenesis and synaptogenesis and prevents neurodegeneration and the onset of depression. Irisin release during exercise shows an important role in depression by increasing dopamine, BDNF, NGF, and IGF-1 and decreasing inflammatory mediators such as IL-6 and IL-1β. In addition, exercise-induced orexin and NPY can increase hippocampal neurogenesis and relieve depression. After exercise, the tryptophan to large neutral amino acids (TRP/LNAA) ratio and the tryptophan to branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) ratio increase, which may have antidepressant effects. The expression of M5 receptor and nAChR α7 increases after exercise and significantly increases dopamine and acetylcholine and ameliorates depression. It appears that during exercise, muscarinic receptors can reduce depression through dopamine in the absence of acetylcholine. Therefore, exercise can be used to reduce depression by affecting neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, cytokines, and/or neurotrophins.

Fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations associated with μ-opioid and dopamine receptor distributions in the central nervous system after high-intensity exercise bouts

Introduction

Dopaminergic, opiod and endocannabinoid neurotransmission are thought to play an important role in the neurobiology of acute exercise and, in particular, in mediating positive affective responses and reward processes. Recent evidence indicates that changes in fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (zfALFF) in resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) may reflect changes in specific neurotransmitter systems as tested by means of spatial correlation analyses.

Methods

Here, we investigated this relationship at different exercise intensities in twenty young healthy trained athletes performing low-intensity (LIIE), high-intensity (HIIE) interval exercises, and a control condition on three separate days. Positive And Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) scores and rs-fMRI were acquired before and after each of the three experimental conditions. Respective zfALFF changes were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVAs. We examined the spatial correspondence of changes in zfALFF before and after training with the available neurotransmitter maps across all voxels and additionally, hypothesis-driven, for neurotransmitter maps implicated in the neurobiology of exercise (dopaminergic, opiodic and endocannabinoid) in specific brain networks associated with "reward" and "emotion."

Results

Elevated PANAS Positive Affect was observed after LIIE and HIIE but not after the control condition. HIIE compared to the control condition resulted in differential zfALFF decreases in precuneus, temporo-occipital, midcingulate and frontal regions, thalamus, and cerebellum, whereas differential zfALFF increases were identified in hypothalamus, pituitary, and periaqueductal gray. The spatial alteration patterns in zfALFF during HIIE were positively associated with dopaminergic and μ-opioidergic receptor distributions within the 'reward' network.

Discussion

These findings provide new insight into the neurobiology of exercise supporting the importance of reward-related neurotransmission at least during high-intensity physical activity.

The effect of subjective exercise experience on anxiety disorder in university freshmen: the chain-mediated role of self-efficacy and interpersonal relationship

Background

Anxiety disorder is a significant concern in the context of mental health among university students. This study aimed to examine the impact of subjective exercise experience on anxiety disorder in freshmen and verify the mediating role of self-efficacy and interpersonal relationships between them.

Methods

A total of 1,308 Chinese freshmen underwent an investigation using the Subjective Exercise Experience Scale (SEES), Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), and Interpersonal Relationship Comprehensive Diagnostic Scale (IRIDS).

Results

The outcomes of this study are as follows: (1) Boys exhibited marginally greater performance in physical activity assessments compared to girls while displaying somewhat lower scores than girls in measures of anxiety disorders, self-efficacy, and interpersonal relationship tests. Of these, 63.39% were diagnosed with mild anxiety, 51.73% were diagnosed with moderate anxiety, and 10% were diagnosed with severe anxiety; (2) The subjective exercise experience had a significant negative correlation with an anxiety disorder (r = -0.36, p < 0.01), and the subjective exercise experience had a direct negative impact on anxiety disorder (β = -0.112, t = -11.776, p < 0.01). Furthermore, subjective exercise experience positively predicted self-efficacy (β = 0.125, t = 13.236, p < 0.01) and interpersonal relationship (β = 0.395, t = 12.359, p < 0.01). Self-efficacy had a substantial impact on interpersonal relationships (β = 0.724, t = 12.172, p < 0.01) and anxiety disorders (β = -0.148, t = -8.387, p < 0.01). Interpersonal relationships had a significant positive predictive effect on anxiety disorder (β = -0.081, t = -10.441, p < 0.01); (3) Self-efficacy and interpersonal relationships were identified as important mediators between subjective exercise experience and anxiety disorder. The intermediary effect accounted for 18.84% of the total effect. Specifically, subjective exercise had a direct impact on anxiety disorders through self-efficacy mediators (2.90%), interpersonal mediators (1.45%), and self-efficacy and interpersonal chain mediators (14.49%).

Conclusion

Subjective exercise experience has a significant positive predictive effect on university students' self-efficacy, interpersonal relationships, and anxiety disorder. Moreover, self-efficacy and interpersonal interactions serve as intermediaries between subjective exercise experiences and anxiety disorders. These findings have immense importance in advancing the mental well-being of freshmen and serve as a theoretical foundation for formulating intervention strategies. However, the study had certain limitations, such as the specificity of the sample and the use of self-reported data. Further research could enhance the sample size and utilize various assessment techniques to validate these findings.

Sporting Mind: The Interplay of Physical Activity and Psychological Health

The symbiotic relationship between sports practice and psychological well-being has, in recent times, surged to the forefront of academic and public attention. The aim of this narrative review is to comprehensively explore the intricate pathways linking physical engagement in sports to its subsequent impacts on mental health and synthesize the multifarious effects of sports on psychological health, offering insights for integrating physical and psychological strategies to enhance well-being. From neurobiological underpinnings to therapeutic applications, this comprehensive manuscript provides an in-depth dive into the multifaceted world of sports and psychology. Highlighting evidence-based interventions, this review aspires to offer actionable insights for practitioners, athletes, and individuals alike, advocating for a holistic approach to mental well-being. This manuscript highlights the profound impact of sports on mental health, emphasizing its role in emotional regulation, resilience, cognitive function, and treating psychological conditions. It details how sports induce neurochemical changes, enhance brain functions like memory and learning, and aid against cognitive decline. This review also notes the benefits of regular exercise in mood improvement, stress management, and social skill enhancement, particularly when combined with mindfulness practices. It underscores the importance of considering cultural and gender perspectives in sports psychology, advocating for an integrated physical-psychological approach to promote overall well-being.

Relationship between Anxiety and Problematic Smartphone Use in First-Year Junior High School Students: Moderated Mediation Effects of Physical Activity and School Adjustment

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Despite previous research identifying anxiety as a risk factor for problematic smartphone use among students, the mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying the relationship between the two aforementioned variables are poorly understood. This study aims to explore the relationship between anxiety and problematic smartphone use among first-year junior high school students, together with the mediating effects of school adjustment and the moderating effects of physical activity on the mentioned relationship.

METHOD

This study was conducted using a Web-based self-report questionnaire survey with data collected from 445 first-year junior high school students in Jinan City, Shandong Province. Mediation and moderation analyses were performed using the PROCESS macro in SPSS.

RESULTS

The results showed that anxiety predicted problematic smartphone use not only directly but also indirectly via school adjustment. School adjustment played a partial mediating role in the relationship between anxiety and problematic smartphone use. Physical activity also played a moderating role in the relationship between anxiety and school adjustment.

CONCLUSION

school adjustment and physical activity may be important variables in the relationship between anxiety and problematic smartphone use.

Correlation of exercise participation, behavioral inhibition and activation systems, and depressive symptoms in college students

To clarify the pathways and effects of the behavioral inhibition and activation systems in the relationship between exercise participation and depressive symptoms among college students. A cross-sectional research design was employed to survey 2606 college students using physical activity questionnaires, the Behavioral Inhibition/Activation Systems Scale, and the Beck Depression Inventory. Data were analyzed using methods including one-way ANOVA, independent sample t-tests, non-parametric tests, chi-square tests, correlation analysis, and structural equation modeling. Depressive symptoms were significantly negatively correlated with exercise participation (r = - 0.107, P < 0.001), reward responsiveness (r = - 0.201, P < 0.001), drive (r = - 0.289, P < 0.001), and fun seeking (r = - 0.102, P < 0.001), and positively correlated with behavioral inhibition (r = 0.084, P < 0.001). Exercise participation was positively correlated with reward responsiveness (r = 0.067, P = 0.001), drive (r = 0.085, P < 0.001), and fun seeking (r = 0.063, P = 0.001). Exercise participation had a significant direct effect (B = - 0.079, 95% CI - 0.116 to - 0.043) and total effect (B = - 0.107, 95% CI - 0.148 to - 0.069) on depressive symptoms. The mediating effects of drive (B = - 0.028, 95% CI - 0.043 to - 0.016) and fun seeking (B = 0.005, 95% CI - 0.001 to 0.011) were significant. The more college students engage in exercise, the lower their depressive symptom scores. Drive and fun seeking mediate the relationship between college students' exercise participation and depressive symptoms. Encouraging exercise participation among college students and enhancing their sensitivity to behavioral activation strategies and reward information may have a significant role in preventing and alleviating depressive symptoms.

Physical activity virtual intervention for improving mental health among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A Co-creation process and evaluation using the Behavior Change Wheel

Background

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there were reductions in university students' physical activity, which further increased their mental distress, calling for technology-based physical activity interventions to address the challenges in delivering in-person interventions. This study aimed to develop a technology-based physical activity intervention and pilot test it.

Methods

We developed a virtually-delivered team-based physical activity challenge using the Behavior Change Wheel and Co-creation Framework based on Self-determination Theory. A pilot study was conducted in the evaluation phase to measure the recruitment rate, dropout rate, change in physical activity, and mental distress while identifying problems and collecting participants' opinions regarding the challenge. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were conducted to assess the change in physical activity and mental distress. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results

A three-week physical activity challenge comprising five identified intervention functions was held with 480 participants. The recruitment rate was 84.8% resulting from 407 virtual challenge participants who were conveniently joined as research participants. The dropout rate for the pilot study was 10.96% resulting from the incompatibility problems with the application. Among sample participants who lacked physical activity, participation in this challenge improved their physical activity by 52.5 min of moderate-intensity physical activity per week and reduced their mental distress by three points of self-reporting questionnaire-20 score. Issues regarding the virtual application and the influence of participation in the challenge on basic psychological needs emerged. Participants' opinions identified lack of time as the main barrier to physical activity.

Conclusion

A co-created physical activity intervention developed using the Behavioral Change Wheel Framework inspired high interest from university students and may increase their physical activity and improve their mental health. Several suggestions were discussed to address the identified problems and improve the internal and external validity of the evaluation phase.

Trial registration

TCTR20220720004 (retrospectively registered on July 19, 2022).

Exploring the Relationship between Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Executive Functioning in Adults with ADHD

OBJECTIVE

Associations between measures of executive functioning (EF) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) were examined for adults with and without ADHD.

METHOD

Measures of executive functioning including the Stroop task, Wisconsin Card Sorting task, and Operation Span Task were completed virtually (n = 36 ADHD; n = 36 Control). Participants completed the Six-Minute Walk Test to estimate CRF.

RESULTS

Mean performance measures of executive function did not differ by group. However, higher estimated CRF was associated with better Stroop task performance, and the association was strongest for individuals with ADHD.

CONCLUSION

In adults with ADHD, higher estimated CRF was associated with better inhibitory control, but not with other measures of executive functioning.

All-Carbon Solution-Gated Transistor with Low Operating Voltages for Highly Selective and Stable Dopamine Sensing

The diversity of carbon materials makes it possible to prepare all-carbon electronic devices requiring components with different properties and functions. In this work, we fabricate an all-carbon solution-gated transistor (AC-SGT) based dopamine (DA) sensor with Nafion coated nitrogen and oxygen co-doped carbon yarn (Nafion/NOCY) as the gate electrode and graphene as the channel. The carbon materials in AC-SGT render the usage of a variety of strategies to improve its electrochemical sensing capability including the modification of the gate electrode and the modulation of the operating voltage. With a low gate-source voltage of 0.02 V as well as a low drain-source voltage of 0.05 V, AC-SGT manifests the outstanding DA sensing performances in terms of sensitivity, selectivity, limit of detection (3 nM, S/N > 3), linear range (3 nM to 300 μM), long-term stability (over 30 days), and preconditioning time (60 s). Furthermore, a smartphone controlled portable sensing system integrated with AC-SGT is fabricated herein, which shows the excellent in vitro sensing capability of DA in urine, proving the potential of all-carbon transistors in smart wearable biosensors.

Overview on brain function enhancement of Internet addicts through exercise intervention: Based on reward-execution-decision cycle

Internet addiction (IA) has become an impulse control disorder included in the category of psychiatric disorders. The IA trend significantly increased after the outbreak of the new crown epidemic. IA damages some brain functions in humans. Emerging evidence suggests that exercise exerts beneficial effects on the brain function and cognitive level damaged by IA. This work reviews the neurobiological mechanisms of IA and describes the brain function impairment by IA from three systems: reward, execution, and decision-making. Furthermore, we sort out the research related to exercise intervention on IA and its effect on improving brain function. The internal and external factors that produce IA must be considered when summarizing movement interventions from a behavioral perspective. We can design exercise prescriptions based on exercise interests and achieve the goal of quitting IA. This work explores the possible mechanisms of exercise to improve IA through systematic analysis. Furthermore, this work provides research directions for the future targeted design of exercise prescriptions.

Effects of a Personalised Physical Exercise Program on University Workers Overall Well-Being: "UAL-Activa" Program

Background and objectives: Regular individualised physical exercise (PE) is a habit that not only has consequences for overall health (physical, emotional, social and mental) but can also have positive effects on organisations and institutions, as it helps workers to improve their personal balance and recover from the effort of their working day, showing higher levels of energy, commitment and productivity. The aim of this study was to understand the relationship between the practice of PE and well-being in personal life and at work, as well as job satisfaction, overall health and the assessment of the personal training service provided by final-year students studying for a degree in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences. Methods: This study used a qualitative research methodology. There were 25 employees of the University of Almeria (UAL) (M = 52.16 ± 9.55 years), divided into two focus groups and participating in the physical exercise program "UAL Activa". Results: The following three main themes, based on the results, emerged: (a) social well-being during PE practice, (b) assessment of the personal training service and (c) physical exercise as an emotional benefit at work. Conclusion. The workers' interventions have shown that participating in a personalised PE program led by a personal trainer can improve overall health and mood, with a very positive influence on the working environment.

Dopamine, Psychosis, and Symptom Fluctuation: A Narrative Review

It has been hypothesized since the 1960s that the etiology of schizophrenia is linked to dopamine. In the intervening 60 years, sophisticated brain imaging techniques, genetic/epigenetic advances, and new experimental animal models of schizophrenia have transformed schizophrenia research. The disease is now conceptualized as a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder expressed phenotypically in four symptom domains: positive, negative, cognitive, and affective. The aim of this paper is threefold: (a) to review recent research into schizophrenia etiology, (b) to review papers that elicited subjective evidence from patients as to triggers and repressors of symptoms such as auditory hallucinations or paranoid thoughts, and (c) to address the potential role of dopamine in schizophrenia in general and, in particular, in the fluctuations in schizophrenia symptoms. The review also includes new discoveries in schizophrenia research, pointing to the involvement of both striatal neurons and glia, signaling pathway convergence, and the role of stress. It also addresses potential therapeutic implications. We conclude with the hope that this paper opens up novel avenues of research and new possibilities for treatment.

The role of hypoleptinemia in the psychological and behavioral adaptation to starvation: implications for anorexia nervosa

This narrative review aims to pinpoint mental and behavioral effects of starvation, which may be triggered by hypoleptinemia and as such may be amenable to treatment with leptin receptor agonists. The reduced leptin secretion results from the continuous loss of fat mass, thus initiating a graded triggering of diverse starvation related adaptive functions. In light of leptin receptors located in several peripheral tissues and many brain regions adaptations may extend beyond those of the hypothalamus-pituitary-end organ-axes. We focus on gastrointestinal tract and reward system as relevant examples of peripheral and central effects of leptin. Despite its association with extreme obesity, congenital leptin deficiency with its many parallels to a state of starvation allows the elucidation of mental symptoms amenable to treatment with exogenous leptin in both ob/ob mice and humans with this autosomal recessive disorder. For starvation induced behavioral changes with an intact leptin signaling we particularly focus on rodent models for which proof of concept has been provided for the causative role of hypoleptinemia. For humans, we highlight the major cognitive, emotional and behavioral findings of the Minnesota Starvation Experiment to contrast them with results obtained upon a lesser degree of caloric restriction. Evidence for hypoleptinemia induced mental changes also stems from findings obtained in lipodystrophies. In light of the recently reported beneficial cognitive, emotional and behavioral effects of metreleptin-administration in anorexia nervosa we discuss potential implications for the treatment of this eating disorder. We postulate that leptin has profound psychopharmacological effects in the state of starvation.

Factors Associated with the Level of Physical Activity in Middle-Aged Colombian People during Lockdown in Response to COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study

(1) Background: Due to the pandemic caused by COVID-19, mandatory confinement was declared, which generated a decrease in the practice of physical activity (PA). Based on this problem, it was proposed to study the associations between PA in relation to depressive symptoms, quality of sleep, and the quality of life of middle-aged people who work in the university context during compulsory confinement as a result of COVID-19. (2) Methods: A total of 336 middle-aged people (48 ± 6.67) participated in this analytical cross-sectional study. The variable levels of PA, quality of sleep, symptoms of depression, and quality of life were measured with the International Physical Activity Questionary (IPAQ), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (ZSDS), and the SF-12v2 questionnaire, respectively. (3) Results: A logistic regression model was used to analyze the relationships between the level of PA and depressive symptoms (OR = 2.053), total sleep duration (OR = 0.495), sleep disturbances (OR = 2.414), quality of sleep (OR = 2.471), use of sleep medication (OR = 0.348), daytime dysfunction (OR = 1.809), general health (OR = 0.949), and physical functioning (OR = 0.987). (4) Conclusions: In middle-aged people, during compulsory confinement, being insufficiently active is a risk for depressive symptoms and disturbances in sleep quality.

How to Tackle Mental Fatigue: A Systematic Review of Potential Countermeasures and Their Underlying Mechanisms

INTRODUCTION

Mental fatigue (MF) is a psychobiological state that impairs cognitive as well as physical performance in different settings. Recently, numerous studies have sought ways to counteract these negative effects of MF. An overview of the explored countermeasures for MF is, however, lacking.

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this review is to provide an overview of the different MF countermeasures currently explored in literature. Countermeasures were classified by the timing of application (before, during or after the moment of MF) and type of intervention (behavioural, physiological and psychological).

METHODS

The databases of PubMed (MEDLINE), Web of Science and PsycINFO were searched until March 7, 2022. Studies were eligible when MF was induced using a task with a duration of at least 30 min, when they assessed MF markers in at least two out of the three areas wherein MF markers have been defined (i.e., behavioural, subjective and/or [neuro]physiological) and used a placebo or control group for the countermeasure.

RESULTS

A total of 33 studies investigated one or more countermeasures against MF. Of these, eight studies assessed a behavioural countermeasure, 22 a physiological one, one a psychological countermeasure and two a combination of a behavioural and psychological countermeasure. The general finding was that a vast majority of the countermeasures induced a positive effect on behavioural (e.g., task or sport performance) and/or subjective MF markers (e.g., visual analogue scale for MF or alertness). No definitive conclusion could be drawn regarding the effect of the employed countermeasures on (neuro)physiological markers of MF as only 19 of the included studies investigated these measures, and within these a large heterogeneity in the evaluated (neuro)physiological markers was present.

DISCUSSION

Within the physiological countermeasures it seems that the use of odours during a MF task or caffeine before the MF task are the most promising interventions in combating MF. Promising behavioural (e.g., listening to music) and psychological (e.g., extrinsic motivation) countermeasures of MF have also been reported. The most assumed mechanism through which these countermeasures operate is the dopaminergic system. However, this mechanism remains speculative as (neuro)physiological markers of MF have been scarcely evaluated to date.

CONCLUSION

The present systematic review reveals that a wide range of countermeasures have been found to successfully counteract MF on a subjective, (neuro)physiological and/or behavioural level. Of these, caffeine, odours, music and extrinsic motivation are the most evidenced for countering MF. To provide in-detail practical guidelines for the real-life application of MF countermeasures, more research must be performed into the underlying mechanisms and into the optimal dosage and time of application/intake.

The Motor Engram of Functional Connectivity Generated by Acute Whole-Body Dynamic Balance Training

PURPOSE

Whole-body dynamic balance is necessary for both athletic activities and activities of daily living. This study aimed to investigate the effect of acute dynamic balance training on neural networks.

METHODS

We evaluated resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC), white matter fiber density, fiber-bundle cross-section, and gray matter volume in 28 healthy young adults (14 women) before and after 30 min of slackline training using a randomized, counterbalanced crossover design.

RESULTS

The rs-FC between the left lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the foot area of the primary sensorimotor (SM1) cortex increased significantly after slackline training compared with that after a control condition involving ergometer-based aerobic exercise. In addition, changes in rs-FC between the left lateral PFC and the primary sensorimotor were correlated with performance changes after training (i.e., offline process) rather than online learning. We also observed a main effect of time between the hippocampus and the cingulate cortex, including the anterior areas, and between the bilateral lateral PFC. Although we observed no structural changes, fiber density in the commissural fiber pathway before the first balance assessment was correlated with initial balance capability.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate that acute whole-body dynamic balance training alters specific rs-FC, and that this change is associated with performance changes after training. In addition, rs-FC changes in cognitive regions were modulated by both acute dynamic balance training and aerobic exercise. These findings have the potential to influence various fields (e.g., sports neuroscience, neurorehabilitation) and may aid in the development of methods that can improve motor and cognitive performance.

Carving the senescent phenotype by the chemical reactivity of catecholamines: An integrative review

Macromolecules damaged by covalent modifications produced by chemically reactive metabolites accumulate in the slowly renewable components of living bodies and compromise their functions. Among such metabolites, catecholamines (CA) are unique, compared with the ubiquitous oxygen, ROS, glucose and methylglyoxal, in that their high chemical reactivity is confined to a limited set of cell types, including the dopaminergic and noradrenergic neurons and their direct targets, which suffer from CA propensities for autoxidation yielding toxic quinones, and for Pictet-Spengler reactions with carbonyl-containing compounds, which yield mitochondrial toxins. The functions progressively compromised because of that include motor performance, cognition, reward-driven behaviors, emotional tuning, and the neuroendocrine control of reproduction. The phenotypic manifestations of the resulting disorders culminate in such conditions as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, hypertension, sarcopenia, and menopause. The reasons to suspect that CA play some special role in aging accumulated since early 1970-ies. Published reviews address the role of CA hazardousness in the development of specific aging-associated diseases. The present integrative review explores how the bizarre discrepancy between CA hazardousness and biological importance could have emerged in evolution, how much does the chemical reactivity of CA contribute to the senescent phenotype in mammals, and what can be done with it.

The effect of high intensity interval training with beetroot (Beta vulgaris) juice supplementation on serotonin and dopamine receptors expression, anxiety and depression in middle-aged diabetic rats

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of four weeks of high intensity interval training (HIIT) with beetroot juice supplementation (BJ) on serotonin and dopamine receptors in hippocampal tissue, as well as anxiety and depression in middle-aged diabetic rats.

Materials and Methods

In this experimental study, 28 diabetic female rats (55 mg/kg, induced by streptozotocin) aged 12-14 months, weighing 280-320 g, were divided into (1) diabetic control (DC), (2) BJ, (3) HIIT, and (4) HIIT+BJ groups. Also, 7 healthy rats were included in the healthy control (HC) group to evaluate the effect of diabetes induction on the research variables. HIIT was performed for four weeks, 4 sessions per week (70-95% of maximum speed at high intensities; 50-60% of maximum speed at low intensities). Also, BJ was fed daily to rats at a dose of 10 ml/kg.

Results

Hippocampal expression of dopamine receptor-1 (Dop.R), 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor (5-HT. R), open arm entry percentage (OAE%) and movement rate in the HIIT, BJ and HIIT+BJ groups were significantly higher than the DC group. In the HIIT+BJ group, open arm time percentage (OAT%) was higher than the DC group. Levels of Dop.R gene expression were more affected by HIIT, and levels of 5-HT. R were more affected by BJ supplementation; also, HIIT+BJ had a synergistic effect on reducing anxiety and depression.

Conclusion

Although HIIT was more effective than BJ and HIIT+BJ on Dop.R and BJ supplementation on 5-HT.R and improved anxiety and depression, both of HIIT and BJ were complementary in improving dopamine and serotonin receptor-dependent anxiety and depression and enhanced each other's effects.

Gender Difference in the Relationship of Physical Activity and Subjective Happiness Among Chinese University Students

Background: Gender makes a difference in health and physical activity (PA). This research aimed to identify the gender difference in the relationship of PA and subjective happiness among Chinese university students.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Shanghai Jiao Tong University from July 7 to 17 in 2021, using an anonymous online self-report questionnaire. The questionnaire included the Chinese version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21(DASS-21). The demographic and health-related factors were also reported. Linear regression was carried out to identify the relationship of PA and subjective happiness.

Findings: In total, 1,512 students (1,108 males and 404 females) from three comprehensive schools completed the survey. The SHS score was 17.20 ± 3.44, and it was 17.00 ± 3.23 in males, and 17.75 ± 3.93 in females, respectively (p < 0.001). There was no gender difference in vigorous, moderate PA, or walk min/week, while female students had longer sedentary behavior hours/day than males. Male students scored higher in each subscale of DASS-21. After controlling for confounders, vigorous PA min/week (β = 0.002, p = 0.002) and sedentary behavior hours/day (β = 0.168, p = 0.005) were significantly positively associated with happiness in male students. In contrast, walk min/week (2= 0.002, p = 0.005) was significantly positively associated with happiness in female students.

Interpretation: This research demonstrated a significant gender difference in the association between PA and happiness. Policymakers and college management should pay more attention to PA programs to promote students’ happiness and mental health status.