Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, studies have focused on understanding the effect of exercise and structured sports activity on the development and rehabilitation of the nervous system (NS) both in healthy subjects and those with nervous disorders involving different life stages, such as learning disabilities in youth, multiple sclerosis (MS) in adults, or Parkinson's disease predominantly in the elderly. It has been demonstrated that exercise modulates the production of neurotransmitters by improving the functions of the central and peripheral nervous system, and is able to influence the concentrations of circulating epinephrine and norepinephrine which in turn regulate the levels of neurotrophic factors such as the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). In addition, exercise increases the concentrations of DEHAS, a hormone with a neuroprotective effect. Furthermore, the exercise increases the anatomical volume of the motor cortex, hippocampus and so on. It has also been shown that constant exercise improves neurocognitive abilities such as coordination skills. Although most studies affirm the beneficial effect of exercise on the central and peripheral nervous system, the results are not uniform in describing which sports are more effective than others in improving the development of neuromotor skills, such as manual dexterity, or in limiting the loss of a function related to neurodegenerative diseases. It is also not known as to what frequency, intensity, time, and type of exercise is needed to maintain adequate health of the neurocognitive system.

Therefore, this special issue aims to collect original research articles/reviews that study the effect of sports practice and physical exercise on NS by analyzing direct and indirect methods such as standardized neuromotor tests, blood, urine, salivary samples, or imaging methods, in both healthy subjects and those with diseases involving the nervous system.

Prof. Giuseppe Musumeci and Dr. Alessandra Amato
Guest Editors