This paper reviews the possible neural mechanisms of the physical activity in promoting the brain health, including the molecular, cellular, and organ-level mechanisms (the brain structure and functions). According to the empirical researches, the behavioral and brain science evidences show that the exercise does promote the brain development in children and adolescents and delay the cognitive decline in the elderly. It is suggested that the attention should be paid to the multidisciplinary intersection to explore the causal relationship of the potential mechanisms how the exercise promotes the brain health, to build a multimodal predictive model, and to develop personalized optimal exercise intervention programs for different populations based on the key mechanisms. In the future, large-sample longitudinal studies can be carried out to provide a scientific basis and a practical guidance for the exercise intervention as an auxiliary means for the clinical treatment of related diseases.

brain health  /  children and adolescents  /  the elderly  /  exercise intervention