Most of us who exercise know how much better we feel physically and mentally after a good workout. But did ever think you were getting smarter at the gym?
Ongoing research at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine reveal that mice allowed to use a treadmill tested better than their counterparts who sat on the couch watching T.V. (Just a joke)
The development of brain cells, neurogenesis, is dependent on the interplay between Bone Morphogenic Protein(BMP)and Neuro Stem Cells (NSC). The brain is loaded with NSC which when stimulated will produce more stem cells and neurons. As we get older NSC activity slows and can obviously negatively effect brain function. BMP acts as an inhibitor to our NSC activity severely limiting brain cell production. In short, more BMP equals less neurogenesis and we are not as sharp.
The research done on mice yields some evidence that exercise reduces the amount of BMP allowing for NSC division. In fact, the mice who exercised showed 50% less BMP Activity within a week. Why exercise lessens BMP in the brain is not quite clear. One possible link is the Brain Protein Noggin. Noggin acts as an antagonist to BMP and is elevated in those mice who exercise.
No matter how it occurs, exercise is a promising and relatively easy solution to the ever increasing brain drain effecting our population.
Dr. David Marcon
Cincinnati, Ohio
www.drdavidmarcon.com
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