Exercise-induced noradrenergic activation enhances memory consolidation in both normal aging and patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment.
Post-trial pharmacological activation of the noradrenergic system can facilitate memory consolidation. Because exercise activates the locus coeruleus and increases brain norepinephrine release, we hypothesized that post-trial exercise could function as a natural stimulus to enhance memory consolidation. We investigated this in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) and cognitively normal elderly individuals by examining the effects of an acute bout of post-learning, aerobic exercise (6 minutes at 70% VO2 max on a stationary bicycle) on memory for some emotional images. Exercise significantly elevated endogenous norepinephrine (measured via the biomarker, salivary alpha-amylase) in both aMCI patients and controls. Additionally, exercise retrogradely enhanced memory in both aMCI patients and controls. Acute exercise that activates the noradrenergic system may serve as a beneficial, natural, and practical therapeutic intervention for cognitive decline in the aging population.
Center for Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA. ssegal@uci.edu
Sabrina K
SK
Segal
Carl W
CW
Cotman
Lawrence F
LF
Cahill
D059331:Adrenergic Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000647:Amnesia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000378:metabolism*; D055291:Salivary alpha-Amylases / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
D055291:Salivary alpha-Amylases; D009638:Norepinephrine