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Cells Jul 2019Accumulating evidence indicates that exercise can enhance brain function and attenuate neurodegeneration. Besides improving neuroplasticity by altering the synaptic... (Review)
Review
Accumulating evidence indicates that exercise can enhance brain function and attenuate neurodegeneration. Besides improving neuroplasticity by altering the synaptic structure and function in various brain regions, exercise also modulates multiple systems that are known to regulate neuroinflammation and glial activation. Activated microglia and several pro-inflammatory cytokines play active roles in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. The purpose of this review is to highlight the impacts of exercise on microglial activation. Possible mechanisms involved in exercise-modulated microglial activation are also discussed. Undoubtedly, more studies are needed in order to disclose the detailed mechanisms, but this approach offers therapeutic potential for improving the brain health of millions of aging people where pharmacological intervention has failed.
Topics: Animals; Brain Diseases; Cytokines; Exercise Therapy; Humans; Microglia; Motor Activity; Toll-Like Receptors
PubMed: 31324021
DOI: 10.3390/cells8070691 -
Theranostics 2021Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by death of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. However, so far,...
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by death of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. However, so far, there is no effective treatment for ALS. In this study, R13, a prodrug of 7,8-dihydroxyflavone, selectively activating tyrosine kinase receptor B (TrkB) signaling pathway, was administered prophylactically to 40-day old SOD1 mice for 90 days. The motor performance was investigated by rotarod test, climbing-pole test, grip strength test and hanging endurance test. Afterwards, the spinal cord and medulla oblongata of 130-day old mice were harvested, and the proteomics revealed the effect of R13 on mouse protein expression profile. Astrocytes and microglial proliferation were assessed by immunohistochemical analysis. The number of motor neurons in the spinal cord is determined by Nissl staining. The effect of R13 on gastrocnemius morphology was assessed by HE staining. The effect of R13 on the survival rate was accomplished with worms stably expressing G93A SOD1. Behavioral tests showed that R13 significantly attenuated abnormal motor performance of SOD1 mice. R13 reduced the advance of spinal motor neuron pathology and gastrocnemius muscle atrophy. The proliferation of microglia and astrocytes was reduced by R13 treatment. Mitochondriomics analysis revealed that R13 modified the mitochondrial protein expression profiles in the medulla oblongata and spinal cord of SOD1 mice, particularly promoting the expression of proteins related to oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Further study found that R13 activated AMPK/PGC-1α/Nrf1/Tfam, promoted mitochondrial biogenesis and ameliorated mitochondrial dysfunction. Lastly, R13 prolonged the survival rate of worms stably expressing G93A SOD1. These findings suggest oral R13 treatment slowed the advance of motor system disease in a reliable animal model of ALS, supporting that R13 might be useful for treating ALS.
Topics: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Animals; Central Nervous System; Flavones; Humans; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Mitochondria; Motor Activity; Superoxide Dismutase; Superoxide Dismutase-1
PubMed: 34158851
DOI: 10.7150/thno.56070 -
Obesity Facts 2021Children are becoming less physically active as opportunities for safe active play, recreational activities, and active transport decrease. At the same time, sedentary...
Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Sleep Duration of Children Aged 6-9 Years in 25 Countries: An Analysis within the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) 2015-2017.
BACKGROUND
Children are becoming less physically active as opportunities for safe active play, recreational activities, and active transport decrease. At the same time, sedentary screen-based activities both during school and leisure time are increasing.
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to evaluate physical activity (PA), screen time, and sleep duration of girls and boys aged 6-9 years in Europe using data from the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI).
METHOD
The fourth COSI data collection round was conducted in 2015-2017, using a standardized protocol that included a family form completed by parents with specific questions about their children's PA, screen time, and sleep duration.
RESULTS
Nationally representative data from 25 countries was included and information on the PA behaviour, screen time, and sleep duration of 150,651 children was analysed. Pooled analysis showed that: 79.4% were actively playing for >1 h each day, 53.9% were not members of a sport or dancing club, 50.0% walked or cycled to school each day, 60.2% engaged in screen time for <2 h/day, and 84.9% slept for 9-11 h/night. Country-specific analyses of these behaviours showed pronounced differences, with national prevalences in the range of 61.7-98.3% actively playing for >1 h/day, 8.2-85.6% were not members of a sport or dancing club, 17.7-94.0% walked or cycled to school each day, 32.3-80.0% engaged in screen time for <2 h/day, and 50.0-95.8% slept for 9-11 h/night.
CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of engagement in PA and the achievement of healthy screen time and sleep duration are heterogenous across the region. Policymakers and other stakeholders, including school administrators and parents, should increase opportunities for young people to participate in daily PA as well as explore solutions to address excessive screen time and short sleep duration to improve the overall physical and mental health and well-being of children.
Topics: Child; Europe; Exercise; Female; Humans; Leisure Activities; Male; Motor Activity; Parents; Pediatric Obesity; Schools; Screen Time; Sleep; Sports; World Health Organization
PubMed: 33352575
DOI: 10.1159/000511263 -
Developmental Medicine and Child... May 2021To determine if constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is more effective than standard care in improving upper-limb activity outcomes in children with neonatal... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
AIM
To determine if constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) is more effective than standard care in improving upper-limb activity outcomes in children with neonatal brachial plexus palsy (NBPP).
METHOD
Twenty-one children with NBPP (mean age 25mo, SD=10.3, range=17-48mo; 11 males, 10 females) were enrolled in a crossover trial and randomly allocated to first receive CIMT or standard care, each for 8 weeks. The intervention arm consisted of 3 weeks of casting the unaffected limb followed by 5 weeks of transference activities. The Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA) was used to measure bimanual activity performance at baseline, 8 weeks, and 16 weeks, scored by blinded raters. The Pediatric Motor Activity Log-Revised (PMAL-R) was used as a caregiver-reported secondary outcome measure.
RESULTS
After concealed random allocation (n=21), there were no significant differences on demographics or baseline measures. CIMT was superior compared to control in terms of bimanual activity performance with a mean difference in AHA change score of 4.8 (SD=10.5, p=0.04, Cohen's δ=0.46). There were no significant differences between treatment conditions on the PMAL-R.
INTERPRETATION
CIMT is favored over standard care for bimanual activity performance. Future research should investigate a longer follow-up period, additional comparator interventions, and analyse differences by participant characteristics.
WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS
Gains in bimanual activity performance were greater after constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) compared to no CIMT. Frequency and quality of movement were not significantly different between treatment groups.
Topics: Child, Preschool; Cross-Over Studies; Female; Humans; Infant; Motor Activity; Movement; Neonatal Brachial Plexus Palsy; Physical Therapy Modalities; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 33219706
DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.14741 -
Developmental Medicine and Child... Oct 2021The study of the onset and ontogeny of human behaviour has made it clear that a multitude of fetal movement patterns are spontaneously generated, and that there is a... (Review)
Review
The study of the onset and ontogeny of human behaviour has made it clear that a multitude of fetal movement patterns are spontaneously generated, and that there is a close association between activity and the development of peripheral and central structures. The embryo starts moving by 7.5 week's gestation; 2 to 3 weeks later, a number of movement patterns including general movements, isolated limb and head movements, hiccup, and breathing movements, appear. Some movements (e.g. yawning, smiling, 'pointing'; we show these in eight videos in this review) precede life-long patterns; others have intrauterine functions, such as sucking/swallowing for amniotic fluid regulation, breathing movements for lung development, or eye movements for retinal cell diversity. In cases of developmental brain dysfunction, fetal general movements alter their sequence and gestalt, which suggests a dysfunction of the developing nervous system. The scarcity of longitudinal studies calls for further comprehensive research on the predictive value of prenatal functional deviations. What this paper adds Motor output can occur in the absence of sensory input. Structural development is activity-dependent. Fetal general movements are among the first movement patterns to occur. Pregnancy-related and maternal factors impact quantity and modulation of fetal general movements. Prenatal general movement assessment has not yet brought the expected breakthrough.
Topics: Female; Fetal Development; Fetal Movement; Humans; Motor Activity; Pregnancy
PubMed: 33973235
DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.14918 -
American Journal of Preventive Medicine Apr 2024Exploring sociodemographic effect modification is important to provide evidence for developing targeted recommendations and reducing health inequalities. This study...
INTRODUCTION
Exploring sociodemographic effect modification is important to provide evidence for developing targeted recommendations and reducing health inequalities. This study evaluated how sociodemographic factors including age, sex, race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES) modify the association between leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and all-cause and major cause-specific mortality.
METHODS
The study sample included 471,992 people from the 1997-2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and 41,830 people from the 1999-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Data were analyzed in December 2022. Mortality data from the National Death Index were available to December 31, 2019. Sufficient LTPA was defined as at least 150 minutes of moderate and/or vigorous intensity per week.
RESULTS
There were 46,289 deaths in NHIS participants and 4,617 deaths in NHANES participants during a mean follow-up of 10 years. Individuals with sufficient LTPA had lower risk of all-cause (NHIS: hazard ratio, 0.74, 95% CI: [0.74-0.74]; NHANES: 0.73 [0.68-0.79]) and cardiovascular mortality (NHIS: 0.75 [0.75-0.75]; NHANES: 0.80 [0.69-0.93]) compared with inactive participants. The subgroup analysis showed significant interactions between LTPA and all sociodemographic factors. Associations between LTPA and mortality were weaker among younger individuals, males, Hispanic adults or those of low SES, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
Sociodemographic factors significantly modified the associations between LTPA and mortality. The health benefits of sufficient LTPA were smaller in younger individuals, males, Hispanic adults or those of low SES. These findings can help identify target populations for promotion of physical activity to reduce health inequalities and the development of physical activity guidelines.
Topics: Adult; Male; Humans; Nutrition Surveys; Leisure Activities; Sociodemographic Factors; Motor Activity; Exercise
PubMed: 37972796
DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2023.11.007 -
Medicine and Science in Sports and... May 2023Physical activity levels (PAL) are associated with mortality risk and were instrumental in estimating national energy requirements, but we are unaware of...
PURPOSE
Physical activity levels (PAL) are associated with mortality risk and were instrumental in estimating national energy requirements, but we are unaware of population-based estimates of PAL in US adults. Thus, we conducted a nationwide survey using a validated previous-day recall method to estimate PAL and the behavioral determinants of low and higher PAL.
METHODS
Participants from the AmeriSpeak panel 20-75 yr of age ( N = 2640) completed Activities Completed over Time in 24-hours previous-day recalls. PAL values were estimated as the average metabolic equivalent value over 24 h. Recalls were conducted on randomly selected days in October and November 2019. Survey sample design weights were applied to reflect the US population.
RESULTS
Mean age was 45.3 yr, 51% were female, 67% were non-Hispanic White, and 37% had a body mass index of ≥30 kg·m -2 . US adults reported a mean PAL of 1.63 (95% confidence interval, 1.60-1.65), and 39% (37%-42%) of adults reported PAL ≥1.6 on a given day. Men reported higher PAL than women (1.67 vs 1.59), and older adults reported lower PAL. Adults with PAL <1.4 spent 81% (12.1 h·d -1 ) of their waking day sedentary and 19% (2.7 h·d -1 ) in total physical activity. Adults with PAL considered to be "active"(1.6-1.89) spent only 49% (8.0 h·d -1 ) of their waking day sedentary, and 51% (8.3 h·d -1 ) physically active.
CONCLUSIONS
Our study provides novel estimates of PAL in a nationwide sample of US adults and a description of the type and intensity of sedentary and physically active behaviors contributing to low and higher PAL. These findings may inform public health messages aimed at increasing physical activity in adults and potentially contribute to obesity prevention efforts.
Topics: Male; Humans; Female; Aged; Middle Aged; Motor Activity; Obesity; Body Mass Index; Exercise
PubMed: 36729673
DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003102 -
Medicine and Science in Sports and... Feb 2023Several studies have shown a lower risk of developing frailty with long-term higher levels of physical activity. However, most these studies lacked repeated measurement...
PURPOSE
Several studies have shown a lower risk of developing frailty with long-term higher levels of physical activity. However, most these studies lacked repeated measurement over the follow-up period. Therefore, we examined the association between different types of physical activity and in frailty development using repeated measurements.
METHODS
A total of 69,642 nonfrail women 60 yr and older from the Nurses' Health Study were followed from 1992 to 2016. Leisure time physical activity was assessed biennially. Frailty was defined as having 3+ of the following five criteria from the FRAIL scale: fatigue, low strength, reduced aerobic capacity, having ≥5 illnesses, and ≥5% weight loss. Cox models adjusted for potential confounders were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association between total, moderate-intensity physical activity, vigorous-intensity physical activity, walking, and incident frailty.
RESULTS
During 24 yr of follow-up, we documented 16,479 incident frailty cases. Comparing top to bottom quintiles of MET-hours per week of physical activity, the HR was 0.48 (95% CI = 0.45-0.50) for total physical activity, 0.51 (0.48-0.54) for moderate, and 0.75 (0.71-0.79) for vigorous activity ( Ptrend <0.001 for all activities). For each hour per week increase, HR was 0.56 (0.53-0.58), 0.51 (0.48-0.54), and 0.63 (0.58-0.68) for total, moderate, and vigorous activity, respectively. Walking was the most common activity, and each hour per day increase in walking was associated with an HR of 0.41 (0.38-0.44) for frailty incidence; this was evident even among those older than 70 yr and those with preexisting frailty characteristics.
CONCLUSIONS
Both moderate and vigorous physical activities were associated with a lower risk of frailty. In particular, walking, a broadly accessible activity, was also associated with lower risk.
Topics: Humans; Female; Aged; Frailty; Frail Elderly; Exercise; Motor Activity; Walking; Risk Factors
PubMed: 36170551
DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003046 -
The Neuroscientist : a Review Journal... Aug 2019Animals and humans continuously engage in small, spontaneous motor actions, such as blinking, whisking, and postural adjustments ("fidgeting"). These movements are... (Review)
Review
Animals and humans continuously engage in small, spontaneous motor actions, such as blinking, whisking, and postural adjustments ("fidgeting"). These movements are accompanied by changes in neural activity in sensory and motor regions of the brain. The frequency of these motions varies in time, is affected by sensory stimuli, arousal levels, and pathology. These fidgeting behaviors can be entrained by sensory stimuli. Fidgeting behaviors will cause distributed, bilateral functional activation in the 0.01 to 0.1 Hz frequency range that will show up in functional magnetic resonance imaging and wide-field calcium neuroimaging studies, and will contribute to the observed functional connectivity among brain regions. However, despite the large potential of these behaviors to drive brain-wide activity, these fidget-like behaviors are rarely monitored. We argue that studies of spontaneous and evoked brain dynamics in awake animals and humans should closely monitor these fidgeting behaviors. Differences in these fidgeting behaviors due to arousal or pathology will "contaminate" ongoing neural activity, and lead to apparent differences in functional connectivity. Monitoring and accounting for the brain-wide activations by these behaviors is essential during experiments to differentiate fidget-driven activity from internally driven neural dynamics.
Topics: Animals; Behavior, Animal; Blinking; Brain; Deglutition; Humans; Motor Activity; Respiration; Sensorimotor Cortex; Tongue; Vibrissae
PubMed: 30311838
DOI: 10.1177/1073858418805427 -
Communications Biology Feb 2022Physiology can underlie movement, including short-term activity, exploration of unfamiliar environments, and larger scale dispersal, and thereby influence species... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Physiology can underlie movement, including short-term activity, exploration of unfamiliar environments, and larger scale dispersal, and thereby influence species distributions in an environmentally sensitive manner. We conducted meta-analyses of the literature to establish, firstly, whether physiological traits underlie activity, exploration, and dispersal by individuals (88 studies), and secondly whether physiological characteristics differed between range core and edges of distributions (43 studies). We show that locomotor performance and metabolism influenced individual movement with varying levels of confidence. Range edges differed from cores in traits that may be associated with dispersal success, including metabolism, locomotor performance, corticosterone levels, and immunity, and differences increased with increasing time since separation. Physiological effects were particularly pronounced in birds and amphibians, but taxon-specific differences may reflect biased sampling in the literature, which also focussed primarily on North America, Europe, and Australia. Hence, physiology can influence movement, but undersampling and bias currently limits general conclusions.
Topics: Animal Distribution; Animals; Behavior, Animal; Motor Activity; Species Specificity
PubMed: 35115649
DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03055-y