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Exercise Science and Neurodegeneration: Current Trends and Research
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Exercise Science and Neurodegeneration: Current Trends and Research

A Special Issue of Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology (ISSN 2411-5142) belonging to the section "Physical Exercise for Health Promotion".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 December 2026 | Viewed by 2815

Editors

Dr. Grazia Maugeri

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Interests: neuroanatomy; neuromorphology; molecular biology; diabetic retinopathy; neurodegenerative disease; neuropetides
Prof. Dr. Velia D'Agata

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
Interests: neuroscience; neurodegeneration; molecular biology; peptides

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Increasing evidence supports the positive impact of exercise on human health. Exercise has been established to reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease and several other chronic diseases, including diabetes mellitus, cancer, obesity, hypertension, bone and joint diseases, and neurodegenerative disease.

Although the exact mechanisms by which this occurs remain unclear, growing research points to exercise’s neuroprotective effects in both human and animal models, with a particular focus on mental health, neurodegenerative conditions, and brain injuries. This Special Issue aims to explore the relationship between exercise and brain function in physiological and/or pathological conditions using clinical and animal studies. Original articles and review articles are welcome.

Dr. Grazia Maugeri
Prof. Dr. Velia D'Agata
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • exercise
  • neuroprotection
  • neurodegenerative diseases
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 16027 KB  
Article
Moderate Exercise Stimulates PACAP-Mediated Neurogenesis in Rat Dentate Gyrus and Cerebellar Cortex
by Grazia Maugeri, Salvatore Di Bartolo, Nicoletta Palmeri, Agata Grazia D’Amico, Desiree Brancato, Concetta Federico, Velia D’Agata and Giuseppe Musumeci
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2026, 11(1), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk11010037 - 15 Jan 2026
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1451
Abstract
Background: Moderate physical activity (PA) exerts powerful systemic and neuroprotective effects, reducing chronic disease risk and enhancing cognitive and psychological well-being. PA promotes brain plasticity by upregulating neurotrophic factors and stimulating neurogenesis. Given the established role of Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP) in [...] Read more.
Background: Moderate physical activity (PA) exerts powerful systemic and neuroprotective effects, reducing chronic disease risk and enhancing cognitive and psychological well-being. PA promotes brain plasticity by upregulating neurotrophic factors and stimulating neurogenesis. Given the established role of Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide (PACAP) in neuronal survival, differentiation, and anti-apoptotic signaling, we aimed to investigate whether moderate PA modulates the endogenous expression of PACAP and its specific receptor PAC1R in the DG and cerebellar cortex. Methods: To this end, twenty-four rats were distributed into sedentary or exercise groups. Immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses were performed to assess PACAP and PAC1R expression. Co-expression with doublecortin (DCX), a marker of immature neurons, was evaluated to explore the direct relationship between PACAP signaling and neurogenesis. Results: Our results showed that moderate PA induced a significant up-regulation of PACAP and PAC1R in both the DG and cerebellar cortex compared to sedentary controls. Moreover, high co-expression of PACAP and DCX was detected in these regions, suggesting an involvement of PACAP in exercise-induced neurogenic processes. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that moderate physical activity is associated with enhanced PACAP/PAC1R signaling and DCX expression in neurogenic regions, warranting further investigation into its specific contribution to exercise-induced brain plasticity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise Science and Neurodegeneration: Current Trends and Research)
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Review

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19 pages, 4378 KB  
Review
Physical Activity and Purkinje Cells: Mechanisms of Cerebellar Plasticity and Neuroprotection
by Nicoletta Palmeri, Agata Grazia D’Amico, Daniela Maria Rasà, Carla Cavallaro, Giuseppe Musumeci, Velia D’Agata and Grazia Maugeri
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2026, 11(3), 307; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk11030307 - 3 Aug 2026
Viewed by 719
Abstract
The cerebellum plays a key role in regulating movement, coordination, and certain cognitive functions. Purkinje cells are the principal neurons of the cerebellum, essential for integrating information and modulating output to other parts of the central nervous system. Physical exercise is crucial for [...] Read more.
The cerebellum plays a key role in regulating movement, coordination, and certain cognitive functions. Purkinje cells are the principal neurons of the cerebellum, essential for integrating information and modulating output to other parts of the central nervous system. Physical exercise is crucial for maintaining psychophysical well-being and improving quality of life. Moreover, its beneficial effects on brain health are well established. After a brief overview of cerebellar anatomy, this narrative review aims to summarize current experimental evidence on the effects of physical activity on Purkinje cells, particularly in the context of neuronal plasticity and neuroprotection. Special attention is given to structural and functional adaptations under both physiological and pathological conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases, neurodevelopmental disorders, traumatic brain injury, and aging. Overall, the available findings suggest that Purkinje cells represent a key cellular target of exercise-induced cerebellar plasticity. Physical activity may therefore contribute to preserving cerebellar function and promoting neuroprotection through mechanisms involving structural remodeling and synaptic adaptation of Purkinje cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise Science and Neurodegeneration: Current Trends and Research)
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