Exercise Is Any Bodily Activity That Enhances - amazonia.fiocruz.br

Exercise Is Any Bodily Activity That Enhances - opinion

Less visible, but perhaps even more important, is the profound influence exercise has on the structure of our brains — an influence that can protect and preserve brain health and function throughout life. In fact, some experts believe that the human brain may depend on regular physical activity to function optimally throughout our lifetime. Many studies suggest that exercise can help protect our memory as we age. This is because exercise has been shown to prevent the loss of total brain volume which can lead to lower cognitive function , as well as preventing shrinkage in specific brain regions associated with memory. For example, one magnetic resonance imaging MRI scan study revealed that in older adults, six months of exercise training increases brain volume. Another study showed that shrinkage of the hippocampus a brain region essential for learning and memory in older people can be reversed by regular walking. This change was accompanied by improved memory function and an increase of the protein brain-derived neutropic factor BDNF in the bloodstream. Positive links between exercise, BDNF and memory have been widely investigated and have been demonstrated in young adults and older people. Neurogenesis occurs only in very few brain regions — one of which is the hippocampus — and thus may be a central mechanism involved in learning and memory. Regular physical activity may protect memory in the long term by inducing neurogenesis via BDNF. Exercise Is Any Bodily Activity That Enhances

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Here are just a few ways exercise changes the structure of our brain. Less visible, but perhaps even more important, is the profound influence exercise has on the structure of our brains — an influence that can protect and preserve brain health and function throughout life.

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In fact, some experts believe that the human brain may depend on regular physical activity to function optimally throughout our lifetime. Many studies suggest that exercise can help protect our memory as we age. This is because exercise has been shown to prevent the loss of total brain volume which can lead to lower cognitive functionas well as preventing shrinkage in specific brain regions associated with memory.

For example, one magnetic resonance imaging MRI scan study revealed that in older adults, six months of exercise training increases brain volume. Another study showed that shrinkage of the hippocampus a brain region essential for learning and memory in older people can be reversed by regular walking.

This change was accompanied by improved memory function and an increase of the protein brain-derived neutropic factor BDNF in the bloodstream. Positive links between exercise, BDNF and memory have been widely investigated and have been demonstrated in young adults and older people.

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Neurogenesis occurs only in very few brain regions — one of which is the hippocampus — and thus may be a central mechanism involved in learning and memory. Regular physical activity may protect memory in the long term by inducing neurogenesis via BDNF. While this link between exercise, BDNF, neurogenesis, and memory is very well described in animal models, experimental and ethical constraints mean that its importance to human brain function is not quite so clear. This is because our nervous tissues need a constant supply of oxygen to function and survive. When neurons become more active, blood flow in the region where these neurons are located increases to meet source.

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As such, maintaining a healthy brain depends on maintaining a healthy network of blood vessels. Regular exercise increases the growth of new blood vessels in the brain regions where neurogenesis occurs, providing the Enhancces blood supply that supports the link of these new neurons. Exercise also improves the health and function of existing blood vessels, ensuring that brain tissue consistently receives adequate blood supply to meet its needs and preserve its function.

Finally, regular exercise can prevent, and even treat, hypertension high blood pressurewhich is a risk factor for development of dementia. Exercise works in Ativity ways to enhance the health and function of blood vessels in the brain. Recently, a growing body of research has centred on microglia, which are the resident immune cells of the brain.

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Their main function is to constantly check the brain for potential threats from microbes or dying or damaged cells, and to clear any damage they find. As we age, microglia become less efficient at clearing damage, and less able to prevent disease and inflammation. This Exercisd neuroinflammation can progressimpairing brain functions — including memory. Exercise was shown to make the microglia more energy efficient and capable of counteracting neuroinflammatory changes that impair brain function.]