Beyond Muscles: Scientists Uncover Exercise’s Secret Brain-Boosting Power

Beyond Muscles: Scientists Uncover Exercise’s Secret Brain-Boosting Power

Endurance improvements from exercise depend on sustained activation of specific brain neurons after workouts.

The hidden brain benefit of getting in shape that scientists just discovered

Starting a new exercise routine does more than just build muscle and cardiovascular endurance, as a recent study shows it also trains the brain to release larger amounts of a restorative protein. The research, published in the journal Brain Research, reveals that adults who become physically fitter over a few months experience a larger spike in this brain boosting molecule after a single workout. This enhanced chemical response may help explain …

Adults who become physically fitter over a few months experience a larger spike in BDNF, a brain boosting molecule, after a single workout. This enhanced chemical response may help explain how regular physical activity supports higher level thinking and f