Although there is no unanimity, growing evidence supports the value of regular physical exercise to prevent Alzheimer’s disease as well as cognitive decline in affected patients. Together with an introductory summary on epidemiological evidence, the aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on the potential biological mechanisms underlying exercise benefits in this condition. Regular physical exercise has proven to be beneficial for traditional cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., reduced vascular flow, diabetes) involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Exercise also promotes neurogenesis via increases in exercise-induced metabolic factors (e.g., ketone bodies, lactate) and muscle-derived myokines (cathepsin-B, irisin), which in turn stimulate the production of neurotrophins such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor. Finally, regular exercise exerts anti-inflammatory effects and improves the brain redox status, thereby ameliorating the pathophysiological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease (e.g., amyloid-β deposition). In summary, physical exercise might provide numerous benefits through different pathways that might, in turn, help prevent risk and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. More evidence is needed, however, based on human studies.

尽管没有一致意见，但越来越多的证据支持定期体育锻炼对预防阿尔茨海默氏病以及受影响患者的认知能力下降的价值。结合流行病学证据的简介，本文的目的是总结有关这种情况下锻炼益处潜在的生物学机制的最新知识。事实证明，定期体育锻炼对参与阿尔茨海默氏病发病机理的传统心血管危险因素（例如，血管流量减少，糖尿病）有益。运动还通过增加运动引起的代谢因子（例如，，酮体，乳酸盐）和肌肉衍生的肌动蛋白（cathepsin-B，虹膜素），进而刺激神经营养蛋白（如脑源性神经营养因子）的产生。最后，经常运动可发挥抗炎作用并改善大脑的氧化还原状态，从而改善阿尔茨海默氏病的病理生理学特征（例如，淀粉样β沉积）。总之，体育锻炼可以通过不同的途径提供许多好处，而这些途径又可以帮助预防老年痴呆症的风险和进展。但是，基于人体研究，需要更多的证据。