TY - JOUR

T1 - Effects of acute physical activity on brain metabolites as measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in humans

T2 - A systematic review

AU - Ryberg, Mathias

AU - Boraxbekk, Carl Johan

AU - Kjaer, Michael

AU - Demnitz, Naiara

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Physical activity (PA) promotes brain health in a variety of domains including cognition, mood, and neuroplasticity. At the neurochemical level, the mechanisms underlying these effects in the brain are not fully understood. With proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-MRS), it is possible to non-invasively quantify metabolite concentrations, enabling studies to obtain measures of exercise-induced neurochemical changes. This systematic review aimed to examine the existing literature on acute effects of PA on brain metabolites as measured by 1H-MRS. Four databases (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO) were searched, identifying 2965 studies, of which 9 met the inclusion criteria. Across studies, Gamma-AminoButyric Acid (GABA) and lactate tended to increase after exercise, while no significant changes in choline were reported. For glutamine/glutamate (Glx), studies were inconclusive. Conclusions were limited by the lack of consensus on 1H-MRS data processing and exercise protocols. To reduce inter-study differences, future studies are recommended to (1): apply a standardized exercise index (2), consider the onset time of MRS scans, and (3) follow standardized MRS quantification methods.

AB - Physical activity (PA) promotes brain health in a variety of domains including cognition, mood, and neuroplasticity. At the neurochemical level, the mechanisms underlying these effects in the brain are not fully understood. With proton Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-MRS), it is possible to non-invasively quantify metabolite concentrations, enabling studies to obtain measures of exercise-induced neurochemical changes. This systematic review aimed to examine the existing literature on acute effects of PA on brain metabolites as measured by 1H-MRS. Four databases (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO) were searched, identifying 2965 studies, of which 9 met the inclusion criteria. Across studies, Gamma-AminoButyric Acid (GABA) and lactate tended to increase after exercise, while no significant changes in choline were reported. For glutamine/glutamate (Glx), studies were inconclusive. Conclusions were limited by the lack of consensus on 1H-MRS data processing and exercise protocols. To reduce inter-study differences, future studies are recommended to (1): apply a standardized exercise index (2), consider the onset time of MRS scans, and (3) follow standardized MRS quantification methods.

KW - Exercise

KW - Interventions

KW - Neurochemistry

KW - Spectroscopy

U2 - 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20534

DO - 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20534

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 37818016

AN - SCOPUS:85173660640

VL - 9

JO - Heliyon

JF - Heliyon

SN - 2405-8440

IS - 10

M1 - e20534

ER -