This May Explain How Exercise Protects Aging Brains

Key Points:

• A new study in Cell reveals that exercise prompts the liver in mice to release a protein called GPLD1, which helps strengthen the blood-brain barrier and improve cognitive function, even in mice predisposed to Alzheimer's-like conditions.
• GPLD1 does not enter the brain but acts on the blood-brain barrier, reducing the protein TNAP that accumulates with age and makes the barrier leakier, thereby potentially protecting brain health.
• Older, inactive mice engineered to produce extra GPLD1 showed improved memory and increased neurogenesis, similar to the effects of exercise, and GPLD1 reduced Alzheimer's-related brain plaques by up to 30%.
• Elevated TNAP levels are found in sedentary older humans, while higher GPLD1 levels correlate with regular walking, suggesting a similar mechanism may exist in people, though experts caution further research is needed.
• Researchers aim to test the effects of GPLD1 in humans and explore the possibility of GPLD1-based treatments as a form of "artificial exercise" for those unable to engage in physical activity.