• Scientists reveal how exercise protects the brain from Alzheimerâ s Researchers at UC San Francisco have identified a biological process that may explain why exercise sharpens thinking and memory. • Their findings suggest that physical activity strengthens the brain’s built in defense system, helping protect it from age related damage. • As people grow older, the blood-brain barrier becomes more fragile. • This tightly packed network of blood vessels normally shields the brain from harmful substances circulating in the bloodstream. • Over time, however, it can become leaky, allowing damaging compounds to enter brain tissue. • The result is inflammation, which is linked to cognitive decline and is commonly seen in disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Article Summaries:
- Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco have identified a mechanism by which physical activity may protect the brain from age‑related decline. Exercise stimulates the liver to release the enzyme GPLD1, which travels to the blood‑brain barrier and removes the protein TNAP from the surface of its endothelial cells. TNAP accumulation weakens the barrier, increasing leakiness and inflammation that are linked to cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. In older mice, lowering TNAP levels restored barrier integrity, reduced inflammation, and improved memory. The findings suggest a body‑to‑brain pathway that could inform future Alzheimer’s therapies.
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