The impact of exercise on the Brain
I have been reading an extremely interesting book on the
positive impact of exercise on the brain: Spark, by Dr.
John Ratey. Dr. Ratey argues that our brains evolved
from the need to create ever more finely honed motor
skills. To survive, our ancestors had to use their minds
and their bodies to find food and to avoid predators.
He argues that the sedentary lives humans now live
threaten their continued survival: 65 percent of U.S.
adults are overweight or obese and the rates of disease related to being overweight continue to rise. He shows that exercise brings about the release of neurochemicals and growth factors which bolster the brain’s infrastructure. When the brain is inactive, it withers from inactivity, in the same way that our muscles do.
Research has found that exercise works better than the drug sertraline (Zoloft) at relieving depression – and with side effects that are all positive ! We have all heard about research that has shown that exercise helps to prevent Alzheimer’s. Dr. Ratey talks about a new physical education program in schools that have not only made its students the most fit in the nation, but have made them outstanding students – a totally unexpected result of the exercise program. It turns out that exercise provides the nourishment that the brain needs to develop new neural pathways, and to build the connections that make us smarter. I have long argued that phys ed programs focus far too much on organized sports, and should be conducted in a way that teaches students how to take care of their bodies – for life.
We, obviously, are not kids, but our brains, too, need exercise. We need to grow our brain cells, especially given that as we age, some of our brain function declines. But, as with muscle strength, we can reverse this decline to some degree if we exercise. The fact that this will help us to live better, more confidently, and suffer less depression or other limiting conditions is a huge plus.
Dr. Ratey explains that exercise not only balances our neurotransmitters (ALL of them, not just the one or two targeted by drugs), there is another important way in which exercise builds our brains. There is a family of proteins, called factors, especially brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF builds and maintains cell circuitry. It is important to memory and learning. There is a direct biological connection between movement and cognitive function. Research showed that BDNF was present in higher levels in the brains of animals that exercised than in those that were sedentary. BDNF is important not just for the survival of neurons, but for their growth (creating new branches), and, therefore, for learning. A German study found that people learn new vocabulary 20 percent faster following exercise than before exercise, and the rate of learning is directly related to levels of BNDF.
If we did not already have enough reasons to know how beneficial exercise is for our health and well-being, Dr. Ratey has shown us another crucial way it can help us to live more fully and to derive more enjoyment from our lives. So, let’s get moving !
