Beatrice Francisco, the daughter of a very good friend of mine, Maria Francisco, has written a very interesting paper entitled “Neuroplasticity and Exercise in the Post Stroke Brain-A Review” (University of British Columbia). This article is exciting because it supports my passion for exercise and the good it does for our brain. The article is essentially a review of the literature on research and what follows is a humble summary of the main points (the quotes are from the article) which I want to share with readers on the website:
1. “Neuroplasticity is the term to describe the activity-dependent ability of the central nervous system to change structurally or functionally.”
2. Our brain has proteins called neurotrophins that are known to “regulate the survival, development and function of neurons.”
3. Among the neurotrophins, is the Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) which “facilitates long term potentiation (LTP) and long term depression (LTD), two mechanisms of neuroplasticity.”
4. “LTP occurs when repeated stimulation leads to strengthening of existing neural connections or the formation of new ones.”
5. “LTD is the weakening of neural connections due to inactive synapses, or increased low-frequency stimulation of neurons without postsynaptic activity.”
6. Aerobic exercise has neuroplastic properties that mediate BDNF, LTP and LTD.
7. Aerobic exercise leads to increase in BDNF secretion in both human and animal models.
8. BDNF facilitates the production of LTP through high-medium intensity exercise.
9. LTD has also been associated with neuroplasticity, learning and memory through low intensity exercise.
10. “Evidently, literature suggests that aerobic exercise enhances the brain’s capability to experience LTP- and LTD-like learning by changing corticospinal excitability, hence promoting plasticity.”
11. Through these mechanisms neuroscience research is now exploring the idea that aerobic exercise may prime the brain for recovery after stroke.
More of Bea’s review on neuroplasticity and exercise in the post-stroke brain in the next issue of the website! By the way, am also proud to mention that Bea is the former goalie of field hockey Team Canada and University of British Columbia in Vancouver Canada!
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UPDATE: Read part 2 of this post here: https://psychmanila.com/neuroplasticity-and-exercise-in-the-post-stroke-brain-part-ii/
