Summary: “Overall, our finding that selenium metabolism is involved in mediating the exercise-induced increase in adult hippocampal neurogenesis demonstrates how systemic or environmental factors can regulate adult neurogenesis and hence plasticity in the DG. This could have far-reaching implications, as the activity-dependency of adult hippocampal neurogenesis is one of its key features and central to modern concepts of how adult-generated neurons provide life-long adaptability to the hippocampus in both health and disease. The identification of the mechanism underlying the exercise-induced increase in adult neurogenesis could facilitate the discovery of novel therapeutic interventions (including dietary selenium supplementation), which could be used to mimic the beneficial effects of exercise on cognitive function. Given that selenium is a cheap, readily available dietary supplement that is found in a number of commonly eaten foods, such as nuts, grains, and dairy products, it could easily be boosted in the diet of elderly people. This is particularly important for the treatment of individuals who are unable to exercise due to advanced age, frailty, or disability.”

Leiter O, Zhuo Z, Rust R, Wasielewska JM, Grönnert L, Kowal S, Overall RW, Adusumilli VS, Blackmore DG, Southon A, Ganio K, McDevitt CA, Rund N, Brici D, Mudiyan IA, Sykes AM, Rünker AE, Zocher S, Ayton S, Bush AI, Bartlett PF, Hou ST, Kempermann G, Walker TL. Selenium mediates exercise-induced adult neurogenesis and reverses learning deficits induced by hippocampal injury and aging. Cell Metab. 2023 Jun 6;35(6):1085. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2023.04.019. Erratum for: Cell Metab. 2022 Mar 1;34(3):408-423.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2022.01.005. PMID: 37285804.

https://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/fulltext/S1550-4131(22)00005-5