A study by Canadian scientists has shown that exercising and living in a stimulating environment reduce the risk of depression and maintain the health of the blood-brain barrier.
Scientists from Laval University in Canada conducted a study on laboratory mice to find out the effects of chronic psychological stress and tension on the brain health of these animals. They divided the laboratory mice into two groups: the first group engaged in physical activity and was provided with toys and hiding places in the laboratory, and the second group lived in a laboratory environment devoid of stimuli and activities.
Scientists observed that mice that did not engage in physical activity had lower levels of the protein "claudin-5" that maintains the health of the blood-brain barrier, and exhibited anxious and depressive behaviors. Animals that exercised regularly or lived in an environment rich in shelters and toys showed no significant signs of these disorders.
The protein "Fgf2" played a key role in this protective effect. Its levels increased in mice that engaged in physical activity or lived in a stimulating environment, making them more resistant to stress. When scientists artificially increased Fgf2 production in the bodies of mice, they observed that the animals tolerated stress better and maintained their social activity.
The researchers also found that the protein "Fgf2" can be detected in the blood, and that its concentration in humans increases with the severity of depression, making this protein a potential biomarker for mental disorders, a rare discovery in the field of psychiatry.
