title: Environmental enrichment as a method to improve cognitive function. What can we learn from animal models?
abstract: There is substantial evidence that physical and cognitive exercise can enhance memory function in rodents as well as in humans. In addition various behaviors associated with physical activity have been associated with an increased cognitive reserve and a lower risk to develop age-associated memory decline and age-associated neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. To better understand the molecular mechanisms that increase brain plasticity in response to exercise will therefore help to develop effective therapeutic strategies to treat memory decline. Here we review the currently available data with a specific focus on neurodegenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: Research Group for Epigenetics in Neurodegenerative Diseases, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 5, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 5, 37077 Göttingen, Germany. Electronic address: afische2@gwdg.de.
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fischer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D013045:Species Specificity; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Alzheimer's disease; Environmental enrichment; Epigenetics; Histone-acetylation; Memory; Neurodegeneration