Exercise May Protect Brain from Cognitive Decline

A study by researchers at UC San Francisco has uncovered a new body-to-brain pathway that highlights the significance of physical exercise in improving cognitive functions. As people age, the blood-brain barrier tends to become more permeable, resulting in increased inflammation and cognitive decline. The study identified the enzyme GPLD1 as a key player in reversing this process. Released by the liver during exercise, GPLD1 acts to remove the harmful protein TNAP from the blood-brain barrier cells, restoring its integrity. This discovery offers promising directions for new Alzheimer's treatments that focus beyond the brain itself.