Physical Activity and Mental Health: Systematic Review of Neurobiological Mechanisms and Clinical Effects

Abstract

Introduction. Depressive and anxiety disorders represent a global health and economic problem, drastically reducing the quality of life for the population. The search for effective, low-cost methods to complement traditional psychiatric treatment, ones that are free of serious side effects, has led to a resurgence in research on lifestyle medicine. Research Objective. The objective of this article is to provide a critical synthesis and integration of the latest scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness of regular physical activity in reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, to identify optimal dosage parameters: type, intensity, volume, and to analyze the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these changes. Methodology. This review draws on a structured search of the PubMed and Scopus databases conducted through June 2026. Keywords included: „physical activity", „mental health” „depressive disorders", „anxiety", „exercise neurobiology", „resistance training", „aerobic training". This review prioritized the latest network meta-analyses, umbrella reviews, and prospective cohort studies (published from 2021 to 2026). It synthesizes data from clinical and non-clinical populations across the entire ontogenetic spectrum. Results. Regular physical activity has a strong therapeutic effect, often comparable to pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy in mild to moderate depression. The combination of aerobic and resistance training achieves the best results.  Conclusions. Therapeutic strategies must systematically incorporate physical activity as an integral part. Physical activity effectively prevents and treats depression and anxiety across diverse populations. These benefits stem from complex brain mechanisms: stimulating the BDNF axis, regulating neurotransmitters, suppressing inflammation, and stabilizing the HPA axis.