TOPLINE:
According to new research, regular moderate-to-intense physical exercise is associated with greater brain sizes in important areas such as the hippocampus, gray and white matter.
METHODS:
Although there have been connections shown between physical activity and a lower incidence of dementia, it is unknown if regular physical activity has neuroprotective effects on brain structure.
In order to learn more, scientists examined the MRI brain scans of 10,125 healthy adults who self-reported their degree of physical activity (mean age, 53 years; 52% male).
Brain volumes were used to mimic moderate-to-intense physical activities, which are defined as those that increase heart rate and breathing for at least ten minutes straight after controlling for variables.
Intentionally, the criterion for classifying adults as physically active (as opposed to inactive) was established at 2.5 days per week, which is significantly less than the recommended amount.
LESSONS TO NOTE:
About four days a week, or 75% of the cohort, reported partaking in moderate-to-intense physical exercise.
Adults who were physically active tended to be younger, more White people made up of this group, and had lower incidences of type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
Increased days of moderate to intense exercise were associated with greater normalized brain volumes in the hippocampus, frontal, parietal, and occipital lobes, as well as total gray matter and white matter, after a number of variables were taken into account.
IN PRACTICE:
“We discovered that even little amounts of physical activity, such walking less than 4,000 steps a day, can benefit the health of the brain. This is a more realistic goal for many people because it is far lower than the frequently recommended 10,000 steps, according to co-author David Merrill, MD of the Pacific Brain Health Center in Santa Monica, California, in a statement.
SOURCE:
The study was published online in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease on December 7 and was co-authored by Cyrus A. Raji, MD, PhD, of Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
LIMITATIONS:
The participants’ self-reported physical activity during the previous two weeks is not indicative of their lifetime levels of activity. Physical activity may not be the only factor contributing to the link found between brain volumes and physical activity.
DISCLOSURES:
A number of hospitals and foundations provided financing for the study. Raji is an editorial board member of the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and provides consulting services to Brainreader ApS, Neurevolution LLC, Apollo Health, Voxelwise Imaging Technology, and Pacific Neuroscience Foundation. However, he did not participate in the peer-review process.