Light, physical activity reduces brain aging

By -

Lauren Bailey

https://neurosciencenews.com/brain-aging-physical-activity-12018/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+neuroscience-rss-feeds-neuroscience-news+%28Neuroscience+News+Updates%29

This article is about evidence supporting the idea that light amounts of exercise can reduce aging in the brain. People who engage in more physical activity at a young age and continue through adulthood may have a reduced cognitive decline and dementia. Studies have found that 150 minutes of moderate exercise have substantial health benefits and those who participate in an additional hour of physical activity result in about one year less of brain aging. Those who did not participate in the activity showed lower brain volumes when compared to those who did participate in exercise. This provided insight into the effects of physical activity and mental health.

I found this interesting to read about because of the book we read in class, Brain Rules. In this book, the author talked about the ways exercise can improve cognition and neural connections. Physical activity is something college students in particular struggle to include in their routine. By learning more about the future physical and mental benefits of participating in exercise people are more likely to continually incorporate it into their life. This is also interesting to learn about because it shows how the body and the brain work together as one uniform system.

Comments

  1. AnonymousApril 22, 2019 at 7:23 AM

    In addition to Medina's book and the section regarding exercise, further research has been conducted about the type of exercise most effective in improving brain functioning. One article explained a study done at the University of British Columbia, where it was found that aerobic exercise appeared to boost the size of the hippocampus, but resistance training and balance exercises did not show the same effect. From what I've learned in other classes and from other articles, it would appear that the boost in hippocampal size as a result of aerobic exercise would be due to the increased blood flow and oxygen present in the brain. Additionally, there are several studies that show that the prefrontal cortex and the medial temporal cortex have a larger volume in people who exercise. The article published at Harvard University shows that exercise plays an integral role in brain functioning, but it's also important to know what type of exercise is most effective in aiding with brain function.
    https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/regular-exercise-changes-brain-improve-memory-thinking-skills-201404097110

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sniffing Pleasant Odors may Decrease Cigarette Cravings

By -
https://neurosciencenews.com/olfaction-cigarette-craving-11085/ Smoking today is known to be an addictive habit. In fact, a significant group of people who want to quit smoking will relapse after roughly two weeks of not smoking. However, a new study from the APA has shown that smokers who sniff a pleasant smell prior to smoking will have an easier time resisting the urge to smoke. In this study, the researchers selected 232 smokers from the ages of 18-55. First, the participants were exposed to multiple different smells and asked to identify the most pleasant smell to them. Then, participants were asked to light a cigarette and rate (from 1-100) their desire to smoke that cigarette. After the participants gave a rating, they were given a container to sniff the odor that each participant said was most pleasant. The results suggest that sniffing the pleasant odor while a cigarette was lit caused the craving of smoking the cigarette to decrease. The researchers believe that the ple...
Read more

Holding hands can sync brainwaves, ease pain, study shows

By -
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/03/180301094822.htm Summary: Pain researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder and University of Haifa did a studying showing just how far-reaching the simple act of touch can be. They have been studying a phenomenon known as “interpersonal synchronization”, which is the idea that people physiologically sync with those they are with. Pavel Goldstein is the first to look at brain wave synchronization and its relation to pain. He was compelled to do so after the birth of his daughter because it was through that experience he realized holding his wife’s hand helped to eased her pain. He decided to take this idea to the lab in hopes to unveil the science behind a healing touch. They found through their study that “…pain totally interrupts this interpersonal synchronization between couples and touch brings it back.” Touch is powerful and it may even activate pain-killing reward mechanisms in the brain. So if ever you find yourself i...
Read more

Music Therapy

By Laurel McNeal -
http:/ /www.brainfacts.org/Diseases-and-Disorders/Neurodegenerative-Disorders/2019/Music-as-Therapy-011719 Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common forms of dementia that effects memory, thinking, and behavior. In the U.S it is estimated that about 5.7 million people have Alzheimer’s and there is not a cure available. Leading caregivers to look for new ways to help their loved ones have a better day to day life. The article talks about how music therapy could help to manage symptoms like depression, anger, and agitation. Helping to improve patients mood and behavior, while decreasing the amount of medication they must take. The music does not cure the disease but does help to stimulate the brain. Music uses many different areas of the brain at one time. The brain must hear and process sounds, language, emotions, and if singing or dancing plan movements. In one research study scientist scanned the brains of dementia patients while they listened to music. One area the supplementa...
Read more