Physical Exercise and Dementia

抄録

Approximately 30% of Japanese citizens will be aged 65 or older in 2020, and this ratio will be the highest worldwide. An estimated 4.6 million individuals in Japan and 44 million individuals globally have been diagnosed with dementia. Exercise has been identified as a potential means of preventing or delaying cognitive decline. Several epidemiological studies on older adults demonstrated that gait speed was associated with cognitive function. Randomized control studies on physical exercise interventions also indicated that aerobic exercise is beneficial for cognitive function. In order to determine the effects of short-term treadmill exercise on tau protein modifications, we employed a 3-week treadmill treatment using tau model mice. The results obtained showed increases in oxidative stress, microglial cell proliferation, and C-terminal tau phosphorylation. Previous studies reported that long-term treadmill treatments were beneficial. Therefore, positive compensatory changes may occur with the continuation of treadmill training in mice. The molecular mechanisms underlying the relationship between physical exercise and cognitive function still remain unknown; however, their elucidation may lead to the identification of a novel molecule, which may ultimately result in a cure for dementia.