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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2020 Jul 1.
Published in final edited form as: Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2019 May 16;102:345–361. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.05.012

Figure 4.

Figure 4.

Lifestyle factors influence neuronal plasticity such as neurogenesis, and cognition. Elevated levels of inflammatory metabolic agents elicited by Unhealthy Diet and sedentary lifestyle can negatively influence hippocampal neurogenesis. Since Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in the progression of inflammatory disorders, the ROS induced by chronic {Yamin, 2008 #396}{Yamin, 2008 #396} exposure to inflammatory mediators disrupts the endothelial barrier and allows the transfer of immune cells and pro-inflammatory cytokines into the brain parenchyma that, in turn, disrupts production of BDNF and the delicate balance needed for synaptic plasticity. This has detrimental consequences for neural precursor cells (neurogenesis), as well as for the normal neuronal functioning. On the other hand, Healthy diet and Physical exercise has pro-neurogenic properties through a variety of mechanisms, particularly by increasing blood flow, cell metabolism, and synaptic plasticity. These pro-neurogenic modulators promote hippocampal plasticity and long-term changes in cognitive function.