🏃‍♂️ A surprising link between exercise and the mind

The blood-brain barrier is a defense system that isolates the brain from harmful substances present in the blood. Over time, this protection becomes less effective, allowing undesirable molecules to pass through. These intruders trigger inflammation, which is associated with a decline in mental abilities and diseases like Alzheimer's.

This progressive weakening is a natural phenomenon, but researchers from the University of California, San Francisco have identified a way to counteract it.


This team observed how regular exercise influences brain health. They found that in active mice, the liver produces more of an enzyme called GPLD1. This molecule circulates in the blood and acts on the vessels around the brain without entering it directly. Its action appears important for strengthening the brain's natural defenses against aging.

The research highlighted a protein called TNAP, which accumulates in the blood-brain barrier with age. This accumulation weakens the barrier and makes it more permeable. The enzyme GPLD1, released during exercise, targets and removes TNAP from vascular cells. By removing this protein, GPLD1 helps restore the barrier's integrity and reduce leaks, thereby limiting brain inflammation.

Experiments have confirmed this mechanism. Young mice modified to produce too much TNAP developed memory problems similar to those of aged animals. Conversely, reducing TNAP levels in mice equivalent to 70-year-old humans improved the barrier, lessened inflammation, and increased cognitive performance. These observations indicate that intervention remains beneficial even late in life.

These discoveries open avenues for new therapeutic approaches. Developing drugs capable of targeting proteins like TNAP could help restore the blood-brain barrier after age-related weakening.

The study, published in Cell, shows how bodily signals influence brain health. It confirms that maintaining physical activity can have extensive benefits, not only for the body but also for the mind, preserving our mental abilities over the years.