ABSTRACT
Regular physical activity or exercise training reduces the risk for mental illness and neurological disease and commencing a physical exercise habit may diminish disease burden. The mechanisms through which exercise mitigates the burden of mental illness and neurological disease are likely multi-factorial, including both physiological and psychosocial effects. Despite the potential protective and therapeutic effects of exercise, the etiology and disease presentation must be considered as a part of programming. Though generally beneficial, optimal exercise programming strategies may necessarily vary between diseases and individuals. This chapter integrates current knowledge on the effects of exercise in the prevention and treatment of mental illness and the potential mechanisms through which these effects occur. It begins with a review of the effects of exercise in the context of anxiety, depression, dementia and Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. The second section of the chapter describes the physiological mechanisms through which exercise may support mental health. Potential interactions between exercise and diet are also discussed. The close of the chapter integrates information and offers general programming recommendations.
