Table 2 Illustrating the types of exercise, impacts and effects on tau activity
From: Chinese nutraceuticals and physical activity; their role in neurodegenerative tauopathies
Exercise type | Duration | Physical activities | Impacts | Safety tips | Changes to tau activity | Refernces |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Endurance excerise | Minimum of 150Â min per week | Jogging, dancing, swimming, biking, hills climbing, playing tennis | Improves fitness levels Aids daily tasks Improves the health of the heart, lungs and circulatory system Prevent cardiovascular diseases | Easy walking before and after endurance exercise Prevent injuries Drink fluids that makes you sweat | Inhibition of free radical activities in the brain Activates AKT/PKB cascades, thus consequently reduces tau hyperphosphorylation | |
Strength exercise | Minimum of two days per week | Push-up, squats, digging, weight lifting, use of resistance bands | Increases bone density Improves cardiac function Keeps muscle strong Prevents falls and fall related injuries | Never hold breath during strength exercise Breathe out as you lift and breathe in as you relax Prevent injuries | Downregulation of phospho-PKA levels and upregulating PKC levels Reduces tau hyperphosphorylation | [280] |
Flexibility exercise | 2 to 3 days per week at 15- 30 s repeated 2–4 times | Shoulder rolls, neck & shoulder release, chest mobiliser, ankle stretch, calf stretch | Improves flexibility Improves balance Stretches muscles | Warm up prior to stretching Don’t stretch if it hurts Breathe normally while holding a stretch | Downregulation of phosphor-ERK1/2, phosphor JNK and p38 levels were thus inhibiting the over expression of tau protein | [280] |
Balance exercise | 2 to 3 days per week | Step up, Heel to toe walk, one-leg stand, sideways walking | Prevent falls Improves core muscles Improves balance | Use a sturdy chair when necessary Prevent injuries | Inhibition of GSK3β, a kinase mediating tau hyperphosphorylation | [281] |