According to a study conducted by US scientists, even regular, light physical activity has a positive effect on the human brain. That is, it can increase and preserve the amount of gray and white matter present in areas related to memory and learning ability of the brain as we age.
Regular exercise is good for your health in many ways. Now, a study by researchers at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute and the University of Washington has revealed another potential benefit of exercise. Specifically, they found a link between regular activity and the size of brain regions involved in memory and learning. According to the authors, the exercise does not necessarily have to require very strong effort or be long-term, ScienceAlert reports.
In their study, they looked at magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans of 10,125 people. The images showed that people who practiced some type of physical activity, such as walking, running or some sports, had some areas of the brain that were larger than others.
Specifically, they had larger frontal lobes and hippocampus. It is the latter that plays a key role in the brain in storing and processing memories. Although an increased amount of gray and white matter in the brain does not directly mean more efficient brain work, its reduction is often seen as a serious sign of decline in mental abilities.
The study authors also measured the gray matter in each subject’s brain, which is involved in information processing. According to study author and neuroscientist David Merrill, the team found that even moderate physical activity has a positive effect on brain health. For example, it may be enough for a person to walk fewer than 4,000 steps per day.
Increasingly important with age
In the study, the authors did not examine in depth how the benefits on brain volume manifest themselves in people who exercise regularly. However, because the role of the regions in brain function is known, the team hypothesizes that these people may have better memory and learning abilities.
Physical activity can improve brain function for several reasons. Among other things, exercise can improve a person’s blood flow throughout the body, including the brain. It also increases the content of certain proteins in the body which are responsible for the health of nerve cells.
The older you get, the more important the beneficial effect of a mobile lifestyle becomes. Namely, the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases increases with age. At the same time, according to current knowledge, it is assumed that a larger brain volume can help balance the decline in mental capacity associated, for example, with Alzheimer’s.
Previous studies have also found a link between greater physical activity and a lower risk of frailty. Even if the results do not show a direct causal relationship, we can at least talk about a correlation.
According to the working group, in light of the results, people’s awareness of the benefits of the movement should be increased. It would also be worth talking about why it is worth exercising even in old age. Even if the media recommend taking 10,000 steps a day, according to researchers, any type of walking already has a beneficial effect on the body and brain: in any case it can help maintain brain volume as we age.
The study was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
2024-01-02 09:14:00
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