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Blood-brain barrier permeability and physical exercise
Małkiewicz MA, Szarmach A, Sabisz A, Cubała WJ, Szurowska E, Winklewski PJ.. Journal of neuroinflammation, 2019-01-24
Topic: Inflammation, microglia and astrocytes
In this narrative review, a theoretical framework on the crosstalk between physical exercise and blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability is presented. We discuss the influence of physical activity on the factors affecting BBB permeability such as systemic inflammation, the brain renin-angiotensin and noradrenergic systems, central autonomic function and the kynurenine pathway. The positive role of exercise in multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease is described. Finally, the potential role of conditioning as well as the effect of exercise on BBB tight junctions is outlined. There is a body of evidence that regular physical exercise diminishes BBB permeability as it reinforces antioxidative capacity, reduces oxidative stress and has anti-inflammatory effects. It improves endothelial function and might increase the density of brain capillaries. Thus, physical training can be emphasised as a component of prevention programs developed for patients to minimise the risk of the onset of neuroinflammatory diseases as well as an augmentation of existing treatment. Unfortunately, despite a sound theoretical background, it remains unclear as to whether exercise training is effective in modulating BBB permeability in several specific diseases. Further research is needed as the impact of exercise is yet to be fully elucidated.
Key findings
- There is a body of evidence that regular physical exercise diminishes BBB permeability as it reinforces antioxidative capacity, reduces oxidative stress and has anti-inflammatory effects.
- It improves endothelial function and might increase the density of brain capillaries.
- Thus, physical training can be emphasised as a component of prevention programs developed for patients to minimise the risk of the onset of neuroinflammatory diseases as well as an augmentation of existing treatment.
- Unfortunately, despite a sound theoretical background, it remains unclear as to whether exercise training is effective in modulating BBB permeability in several specific diseases.
- Further research is needed as the impact of exercise is yet to be fully elucidated.
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Study details
- Study designnarrative review
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 41/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on journal's citation record, times cited, citations per year, impact for its field and year, cited by studies here, still being cited, senior author's track record, institution's track record and multi-centre collaboration, so those were left out: it earned 24 of the 58 points we could judge it on, which is 41 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of neuroinflammation) |
| Journal's citation record | — / 4 | No journal record from OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | Design recorded as “narrative review”, which our rubric does not rank (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2019 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | — / 7 | No citation count (not found in OpenAlex) — left out of this score |
| Citations per year | — / 5 | No citation count or no year — left out of this score |
| Impact for its field and year | — / 6 | No field-weighted citation impact (OpenAlex has none yet) — left out of this score |
| Cited by studies here | — / 6 | Not yet checked against this library's citation graph — left out of this score |
| Still being cited | — / 4 | No yearly citation counts — left out of this score |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | — / 3 | No institution listed in OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Multi-centre collaboration | — / 3 | Institutions not listed — left out of this score |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 30678702) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Points | 24 / 58 | Scored on 11 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 24 of the 58 points we could judge it on is 41 out of 100. |
| Total | 41 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
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APA 7th
Małkiewicz, M. A., Szarmach, A., Sabisz, A., Cubała, W. J., Szurowska, E., & Winklewski, P. J. (2019). Blood-brain barrier permeability and physical exercise. Journal of neuroinflammation. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-019-1403-x
Vancouver
Małkiewicz MA, Szarmach A, Sabisz A, Cubała WJ, Szurowska E, Winklewski PJ. Blood-brain barrier permeability and physical exercise. Journal of neuroinflammation. 2019. doi:10.1186/s12974-019-1403-x. PMID: 30678702.
BibTeX
@article{malkiewicz2019-30678702,
author = {Małkiewicz, M. A. and Szarmach, A. and Sabisz, A. and Cubała, W. J. and Szurowska, E. and Winklewski, P. J.},
title = {{Blood-brain barrier permeability and physical exercise}},
journal = {Journal of neuroinflammation},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.1186/s12974-019-1403-x},
pmid = {30678702},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-019-1403-x}
}