Recent advances in exercise physiology have revealed that muscle tissue functions as a sophisticated endocrine organ, releasing five critical signalling molecules—myokines—that directly communicate with the brain. When skeletal muscle contracts during physical activity, these molecular messengers travel through the bloodstream to regulate memory formation, learning capacity, cerebral blood flow, and inflammatory balance.
The myokine signalling pathway represents a fundamental mechanism linking physical activity to cognitive health across the lifespan. Importantly, different exercise modalities activate distinct myokine profiles: aerobic exercise preferentially stimulates neuroplasticity-supporting molecules, while resistance training emphasises repair and growth signalling. This discovery has reshaped clinical understanding of how regular physical activity protects neurological function and cognitive resilience in ageing populations.
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