Exercise has been shown to increase neurogenesis, although the molecular mechanisms by which this occurs have not yet been fully understood. Leiter and an international group of scientists from Germany, Australia and China suggested that the effect of exercise is mediated by the systemic release of selenoprotein P, an antioxidant selenium transport protein. The scientists performed laboratory research using mouse models to show that hippocampal neural precursor cell proliferation and adult neurogenesis were boosted by in vivo selenium infusion. The study showed a potential therapeutic value of seleniumsupplementation in the restoration of neurogenesis and reversal of the cognitive decline brought on by aging and hippocampus damage.
Leiter O, Zhuo Z, Rust R, Wasielewska JM, Grönnert L, Kowal S, Overall RW, Adusumilli VS, Blackmore DG, Southon A, Ganio K, McDevitt CA, Rund N, Brici D, Mudiyan IA, Sykes AM, Rünker AE, Zocher S, Ayton S, Bush AI, Bartlett PF, Hou ST, Kempermann G, Walker TL. Selenium mediates exercise-induced adult neurogenesis and reverses learning deficits induced by hippocampal injury and aging. Cell Metab. 2022 Mar 1;34(3):408-423.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2022.01.005. Epub 2022 Feb 3. PMID: 35120590.