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Peer-reviewedCC BYInternational journal of molecular sciences

Exercise-Induced Extracellular Vesicle-Associated miRNAs in Cognitive Aging of Older Adults: A Narrative Review.

  • Paulina Małkowska1
  • Magdalena Sochacka1,2
  • Patrizia Proia3
  • Marek Sawczuk2,4
4 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Physiology in Health Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pomeranian Medical University, 71-210 Szczecin, Poland.
  2. 2Institute of Physical Culture Sciences, University of Szczecin, 70-240 Szczecin, Poland.
  3. 3Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy.
  4. 4Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Physical Culture, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, 80-336 Gdansk, Poland.
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Abstract

Cognitive aging involves chronic neuroinflammation, microglial dysregulation, vascular dysfunction, oxidative stress, and impaired neuroplasticity, and physical activity is one of the few modifiable interventions known to influence all of these processes simultaneously. The molecular mechanisms linking peripheral exercise adaptations to the aging brain, however, remain incompletely defined. This review examines exercise-responsive, EV-associated miRNAs as candidate mediators of this communication across four mechanistic domains: inflammatory signaling (miR-146a, miR-155, miR-223), microglial regulation (miR-124), neurotrophic and synaptic signaling (miR-132, miR-206), and vascular/blood-brain barrier function (miR-126). For each candidate, we distinguish evidence obtained by direct demonstration of an exercise-responsive, EV-associated change from evidence obtained by triangulating separate, non-vesicular, or non-exercise studies-a distinction largely absent from the existing literature. We also evaluate EV-miRNAs as candidate biomarkers of individual exercise responsiveness, separating analytical validity and biological association, for which evidence exists, from predictive validity and clinical utility, for which it does not. Standardized EV characterization, longitudinal exercise interventions, and integration with neuroinflammatory, neurovascular, and cognitive outcomes are needed before these candidates can be considered validated biomarkers of brain health in aging.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{malkowska2026exerciseinduced,
  title = {{Exercise-Induced Extracellular Vesicle-Associated miRNAs in Cognitive Aging of Older Adults: A Narrative Review.}},
  author = {Paulina Małkowska and Magdalena Sochacka and Patrizia Proia and Marek Sawczuk},
  journal = {International journal of molecular sciences},
  year = {2026},
  month = sep,
  doi = {10.3390/ijms27198677},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42883921},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Exercise-Induced Extracellular Vesicle-Associated miRNAs in Cognitive Aging of Older Adults: A Narrative Review.
AU  - Paulina Małkowska
AU  - Magdalena Sochacka
AU  - Patrizia Proia
AU  - Marek Sawczuk
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/28
JO  - International journal of molecular sciences
DO  - 10.3390/ijms27198677
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42883921
AB  - Cognitive aging involves chronic neuroinflammation, microglial dysregulation, vascular dysfunction, oxidative stress, and impaired neuroplasticity, and physical activity is one of the few modifiable interventions known to influence all of these processes simultaneously. The molecular mechanisms linking peripheral exercise adaptations to the aging brain, however, remain incompletely defined. This review examines exercise-responsive, EV-associated miRNAs as candidate mediators of this communication across four mechanistic domains: inflammatory signaling (miR-146a, miR-155, miR-223), microglial regulation (miR-124), neurotrophic and synaptic signaling (miR-132, miR-206), and vascular/blood-brain barrier function (miR-126). For each candidate, we distinguish evidence obtained by direct demonstration of an exercise-responsive, EV-associated change from evidence obtained by triangulating separate, non-vesicular, or non-exercise studies-a distinction largely absent from the existing literature. We also evaluate EV-miRNAs as candidate biomarkers of individual exercise responsiveness, separating analytical validity and biological association, for which evidence exists, from predictive validity and clinical utility, for which it does not. Standardized EV characterization, longitudinal exercise interventions, and integration with neuroinflammatory, neurovascular, and cognitive outcomes are needed before these candidates can be considered validated biomarkers of brain health in aging.
SN  - 1422-0067
ER  -