The long-term exercise after traumatic brain injury: Reharmonizing brain by sound body

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) refer to multiple acquired dysfunctions arising from damage to the brain caused by an external force, including rapid acceleration/deceleration and concussion. Among them, mild TBI (mTBI) accounts for most cases (up to 90%) of injuries. It is responsible for a variety of symptoms, including anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairments that remain difficult to be treated. It has been reported that regular physical activity, as well as, improving life quality, display a neuroprotective function, suggesting a possible role in post-traumatic rehabilitation.In this study, we investigated the effects of treadmill exercise in a mice mTBI model by behavioural, elec-trophysiological and neurochemical analysis.Daily exercise decreased anxiety, aggressive behavior, and depression in mTBI mice. Accordingly, electro-physiological and neurochemical maladaptive rearrangement occurring in the hippocampus of mTBI mice were prevented by the exercise.

Automated summary

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) result from damage to the brain caused by external forces, and mild TBI (mTBI) is the most common type. mTBI leads to symptoms such as anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairments that are difficult to treat. Regular physical exercise has been found to have a neuroprotective effect and may play a role in post-traumatic rehabilitation. This study investigated the effects of treadmill exercise on a mice mTBI model and found that daily exercise reduced anxiety, aggression, and depression in mTBI mice, and prevented maladaptive changes in the hippocampus.