ReviewNeurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology2021
Physical exercise effects on the brain during COVID-19 pandemic: links between mental and cardiovascular health.
Review in Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 56 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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Who cites it
56 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 108 citations in OpenAlex.
- Effect of web-implemented exercise interventions on depression and anxiety in patients with neurological disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in neurology · 2023Pooled it
- Changes in Physical Activity Patterns Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Pooled it
- Molecular mechanisms of physical exercise on depression in the elderly: a systematic review.Molecular biology reports · 2021Pooled it
- Moderate-intensity continuous training and high-intensity interval training improve cognition, and BDNF levels of middle-aged overweight men.Metabolic brain disease · 2022Trial
- Molecular basis of insulin resistance and its impact on the brain: the role of physical exercise.Molecular biology reports · 2026Review
- Associations between muscle strength and mental health in older adults.Revista da Associacao Medica Brasileira (1992) · 2026Article
- Exploring the effects of holistic performance training in tactical athletes: a pilot longitudinal study of the game plan training programming.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2026Article
- Effects of physical activity on cardiorespiratory fitness and vascular function in adults aged 50-60 years.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Article
- Exploring exercise, emotional eating, and body dissatisfaction in depression risk: Using structural equation modeling.PloS one · 2025Article
- Impact of COVID-19 on physical activity patterns in non-professional populations in Asia: a mini review of pre-, during, and post-pandemic periods.Frontiers in public health · 2025Review
- Unraveling the Role of the Blood-Brain Barrier in the Pathophysiology of Depression: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives.Molecular neurobiology · 2024Review
- Review
- Effect of physical activity on anxiety and depression in COVID-19 adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.iScience · 2024Article
- Role of Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Aerobic, Exercise and Sports Participation in Female Cognition: A Scoping Review : Sports, Fitness, and Cognition.Sports medicine - open · 2024Article
- Relationship between infection, physical and mental health and exercise habits of some Chinese residents after recovery from COVID-19.Sports medicine and health science · 2024Article
- Accumulated HIIT inhibits anxiety and depression, improves cognitive function, and memory-related proteins in the hippocampus of aged rats.Experimental brain research · 2024Article
- The impact of exercise on depression: how moving makes your brain and body feel better.Physical activity and nutrition · 2024Article
- First-episode psychiatric disorder risk from SARS-CoV-2 infection: A clinical analysis with Chinese psychiatric inpatients.Journal of biomedical research · 2024Article
- Association between sugar-sweetened beverages and duration of physical exercise with psychological symptoms among Tibetan university students at high altitude.Frontiers in psychology · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
The current pandemic was caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The quarantine period during corona virus disease 19 (COVID-19) outbreak might affect the quality of life leading thousands of individuals to diminish the daily caloric expenditure and mobility, leading to a sedentary behavior and increase the number of health disorders. Exercising is used as a non-pharmacological treatment in many chronic diseases. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms of physical exercise in COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. We also point links between exercise, mental, and cardiovascular health. The infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 affects host cells binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2), which is the receptor for SARS-CoV-2. If there is not enough oxygen supply the lungs and other tissues, such as the heart or brain, are affected. SARS-CoV-2 enhances ACE2 leading to inflammation and neuronal death with possible development of mood disorders, such as depression and anxiety. Physical exercise also enhances the ACE2 expression. Conversely, the activation of ACE2/Ang 1-7/Mas axis by physical exercise induces an antiinflammatory and antifibrotic effect. Physical exercise has beneficial effects on mental health enhancing IGF-1, PI3K, BDNF, ERK, and reducing GSK3β levels. In addition, physical exercise enhances the activity of PGC-1α/ FNDC5/Irisin pathway leading to neuronal survival and the maintenance of a good mental health. Thus, SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to elevation of ACE2 levels through pathological mechanisms that lead to neurological and cardiovascular complications, while the physiological response of ACE2 to physical exercise improves cardiovascular and mental health.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.