Can Exercise Strengthen Your Brain?

A new study out of the University of South Carolina suggests that it can!

The study looked at two sets of mice: one set exercised (on tiny, adorable treadmills!) for an hour each day, while the other set was sedentary. At the end of the experiment, the researchers had both sets of mice do one treadmill “run to exhaustion,” and then looked at the state of their brain cells.

What the scientists found was that the brain cells of the active mice had “newborn mitochondria” in their brain cells.

So, what does that mean?

Mitochondria are tiny organelles within a cell that provide it with energy, so more mitochondria implies better brain function. In fact, people with a mitochondria deficit in their brain tissue are more likely to develop neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s. Tara Parker-Pope at the New York Times also spoke to exercise expert Dr. Mark Tarnopolsky who pointed to studies showing that “long-term runners have a lower risk of neurological disease.”

Of course, mouse brains are a little bit different from human brains, so there needs to be more study before anyone can draw a solid conclusion. In the meantime, it wouldn’t hurt to make time for exercise in your daily routine! It might just make you smarter, and it will definitely give you more energy and even help relieve stress in the meantime.

Image Credit: Creative Commons photo by mikebaird

Source: New York Times

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Treii W.

2:01AM PST on Nov 17, 2011

cool article. thanks.

send a green star

Past Member .

10:37PM PDT on Oct 28, 2011

Exercise can keep oldsters young.

I love it when I tell folks I'll be 69 Halloween.
They gasp. "You're sure looking good!"

I look in the mirror, see my wrinkles, and wink at my subconscious.

If I could afford a face lift, I wouldn't get one.

I like being just who I am, wrinkles and all.

I earned every one of them.

lol

Craig G.

8:05PM PDT on Oct 21, 2011

Exercise may temporarily fool your brain into thinking your body is young and strong again. Remember, neuroscientists believe we think with our whole body. What is the brain without a body? Brain neurons are connected to body neurons. The brain responds to the body as much as the body responds to the brain. They are both one big happy or sad entity.

Bonnie M.

3:58PM PDT on Oct 21, 2011

So- what are you trying to say. What is your point?

Devayani P.

11:44PM PDT on Oct 15, 2011

thanks

Deepti P.

4:52AM PDT on Oct 11, 2011

thanx

Bill K.

7:46PM PDT on Oct 10, 2011

some of the greatest minds in history spent a good portion of each day walking. exercise stimulates creative thought.

Elisabeth T.

6:33AM PDT on Oct 10, 2011

Great article!

Roxana C.

6:46AM PDT on Oct 7, 2011

Interesting.

june t.

12:45AM PDT on Oct 7, 2011

there have been a number of tests showing these results, so in a way it isn't something new. Can't afford a gym and with winter coming, my usual walk will become somewhat dependent upon how bad/icy the weather is-don't want to land on the tailbone while out for the after-work walk.