India, Feb. 23 -- A new study by researchers at UC San Francisco has uncovered a mechanism that explains how exercise can improve cognition by reinforcing the brain's protective network of blood vessels, known as the blood-brain barrier.

As people age, this barrier becomes leaky, allowing harmful compounds to enter the brain. This triggers inflammation, which is linked to cognitive decline and conditions such as Alzheimer's disease.

Six years ago, the UCSF team identified a brain-rejuvenating enzyme called GPLD1, produced in the liver of mice during exercise. However, its exact mechanism remained unclear, as the enzyme cannot cross into the brain directly.

"This discovery shows just how relevant the body is for understanding how the br...