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Walking, Running, Swimming: An Analysis of the Effects of Land and Water Aerobic Exercises on Cognitive Functions and Neural Substrates

Author

Listed:
  • Laura Serra

    (IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy)

  • Laura Petrosini

    (IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy)

  • Laura Mandolesi

    (Department of Humanities, Federico II University of Naples, 80138 Naples, Italy)

  • Sabrina Bonarota

    (IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy
    Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, 00133 Rome, Italy)

  • Francesca Balsamo

    (IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy
    Department of Human Sciences, Guglielmo Marconi University, 00193 Rome, Italy)

  • Marco Bozzali

    (Department of Neuroscience ‘Rita Levi Montalcini’, University of Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
    Department of Neuroscience, Brighton & Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex, Brighton BN1 9RY, UK)

  • Carlo Caltagirone

    (IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy)

  • Francesca Gelfo

    (IRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, 00179 Rome, Italy
    Department of Human Sciences, Guglielmo Marconi University, 00193 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

In the brain and cognitive reserves framework, aerobic exercise is considered as a protective lifestyle factor able to induce positive effects on both brain structure and function. However, specific aspects of such a beneficial effect still need to be completely clarified. To this aim, the present narrative review focused on the potential brain/cognitive/neural reserve–construction mechanisms triggered by different aerobic exercise types (land activities; such as walking or running; vs. water activities; such as swimming), by considering human and animal studies on healthy subjects over the entire lifespan. The literature search was conducted in PubMed database. The studies analyzed here indicated that all the considered kinds of activities exert a beneficial effect on cognitive/behavioral functions and on the underlying brain neurobiological processes. In particular, the main effects observed involve the cognitive domains of memory and executive functions. These effects appear related to structural and functional changes mainly involving the fronto-hippocampal axis. The present review supports the requirement of further studies that investigate more specifically and systematically the effects of each type of aerobic activity, as a basis to plan more effective and personalized interventions on individuals as well as prevention and healthy promotion policies for the general population.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Serra & Laura Petrosini & Laura Mandolesi & Sabrina Bonarota & Francesca Balsamo & Marco Bozzali & Carlo Caltagirone & Francesca Gelfo, 2022. "Walking, Running, Swimming: An Analysis of the Effects of Land and Water Aerobic Exercises on Cognitive Functions and Neural Substrates," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-21, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:23:p:16310-:d:994506
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rachel A. Pruchno & Maureen Wilson-Genderson, 2015. "A Longitudinal Examination of the Effects of Early Influences and Midlife Characteristics on Successful Aging," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 70(6), pages 850-859.
    2. Francesca Gelfo & Laura Petrosini, 2022. "Environmental Enrichment Enhances Cerebellar Compensation and Develops Cerebellar Reserve," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-18, May.
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