14 Jun 2015 Exercise and Your Brain
It has long been known that exercise improves the physical well-being of our body. We also know that intense exercise causes a release of feel-good endorphins in the brain (contributing to what some call a “runners’ high”). But can exercise change the actual structure of our brain?
The Science:
In his book “Spike”, Dr. John Ratey, MD, describes another major benefit of exercise – the accelerated release of the BDNF protein (Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor) in the brain. BDNF has been found to promote the health of neurons in our brain, and even to support the generation of new neurons in the memory center of the brain – the hippocampus. Through this mechanism, exercise improves post-stroke recovery and protects the brain in such conditions as Parkinson’s disease.
In a recent experiment, Dr. Ahmad Salehi and his team at Stanford University looked at the level of BDNF in the brains of 144 pilots aged 40 to 65. The researchers found that pilots with lower levels of BDNF in their brain performed much worse in a set of flight simulator tasks.
Our Recommendation:
Engage in 30 minutes of moderate to intense exercise at least five times per week.
Read More:
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