Barha Cindy K, Liu-Ambrose Teresa
Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, Vancouver, Canada.
Department of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Brain Plast. 2018 Dec 12;4(1):53-63. doi: 10.3233/BPL-180067.
Engaging in targeted exercise interventions is a promising, non-pharmacological strategy to mitigate the deleterious effects of aging and disease on brain health. However, despite its therapeutic potential, a large amount of variation exists in exercise efficacy in older adults aged 55 and older. In this review, we present the argument that biological sex may be an important moderator of the relationship between physical activity and cognition. Sex differences exist in dementia as well as in several associated risk factors, including genetics, cardiovascular factors, inflammation, hormones and social and psychological factors. Different exercise interventions, such as aerobic training and resistance training, influence cognition and brain health in older adults and these effects may be sex-dependent. The biological mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of exercise on the brain may be different in males and females. Specifically, we examine sex differences in neuroplasticity, neurotrophic factors and physiological effects of exercise to highlight the possible mediators of sex differences in exercise efficacy on cognition. Future studies should address the potential sex difference in exercise efficacy if we are to develop effective, evidence-based exercise interventions to promote healthy brain aging for all individuals.
进行有针对性的运动干预是一种很有前景的非药物策略，可减轻衰老和疾病对大脑健康的有害影响。然而，尽管其具有治疗潜力，但55岁及以上的老年人在运动效果方面存在大量差异。在本综述中，我们提出这样的观点：生物性别可能是身体活动与认知之间关系的一个重要调节因素。痴呆症以及包括遗传学、心血管因素、炎症、激素以及社会和心理因素在内的几个相关风险因素中都存在性别差异。不同的运动干预措施，如有氧训练和抗阻训练，会影响老年人的认知和大脑健康，而且这些影响可能取决于性别。运动对大脑有益影响的潜在生物学机制在男性和女性中可能有所不同。具体而言，我们研究了神经可塑性、神经营养因子和运动的生理效应方面的性别差异，以突出运动效果对认知的性别差异可能的介导因素。如果我们要开发有效的、基于证据的运动干预措施，以促进所有人的大脑健康衰老，未来的研究应该关注运动效果方面潜在的性别差异。
