Epigenetic and Neurogenomic Mechanisms Linking Physical Activity to Brain Plasticity and Cognitive Function.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review synthesizing preclinical mechanisms and limited indirect human studies
PubMed 42074592 · doi:10.3390/genes17040474
What was done
The authors conducted a narrative review searching PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to summarize experimental and clinical literature on neurogenomic and epigenetic mechanisms linking physical activity to brain plasticity and cognitive adaptations.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data. It notes qualitatively that physical activity alters DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNA expression, upregulating pathways for neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity, angiogenesis, and metabolic adaptation while downregulating neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis.
Why it matters
The review summarizes potential molecular and epigenetic pathways explaining exercise-induced neuroplasticity, which could inform future research into personalized exercise approaches for cognitive health.
Limits
The conclusions rely predominantly on animal studies, with human evidence remaining limited and mostly indirect. As a narrative review, it does not provide systematic inclusion criteria, risk-of-bias grading, or quantitative effect sizes.
Cited by
- supports Lifestyle, nutrition, and metabolic health can influence gene expression related to brain health and cognitive resilience.