The effects of dopamine and ageing on exercise-enhanced neuroplasticity

This thesis is inspired by evidence showing the benefits of exercise for the brain in healthy ageing and Parkinson’s disease — a disorder involving the loss of dopamine, a chemical messenger in the brain. The main finding was that brain activity and function, including the ability to learn a new skill, was strongly reduced when dopamine activity was blocked. Additionally, it was shown that the brain’s response to exercise is attenuated in older age. Together, these results explain how the states of low dopamine (e.g. as seen in Parkinson’s patients off their medication) and older age (> 65 years) weaken the effects of exercise on the brain.