Neural mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment in depression and cognitive benefits of exercise intervention

Abstract

Depression is associated with functional brain impairments, although comprehensive studies remain limited. This study reviews neural mechanisms underlying cognitive impairment in depression and identifies associated activation abnormalities in brain regions. The study also explores the underlying neural processes of cognitive benefits of exercise intervention for depression. Executive function impairments, including working memory, inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility are associated with frontal cortex and anterior cingulate areas, especially dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Depression is associated with certain neural impairments of reward processing, especially orbitofrontal cortex, prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens and other striatal regions. Depressed patients exhibit decreased activity in the hippocampus during memory function. Physical exercise has been found to enhance memory function, executive function, and reward processing in depression patients by increasing functional brain regions and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) as a nutritional factor also plays a key role in exercise intervention. The study documents neurophysiological mechanisms behind exercise intervention's improved functions. In summary, the study provides insights into neural mechanisms underlying cognitive impairments in depression and the effectiveness of exercise as a treatment.