Exercise protects the brain directly by raising neurotransmitters and growth factors. In a study of mice, 30 days of wheel running raised dopamine by 40%. It raised BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a growth factor for brain cells) by 60%.
Summary: Exercise helps the brain in many ways. It may improve metabolic health, which slows brain decline in a roundabout way. But a new study suggests exercise also acts on the brain directly. It can significantly raise brain chemicals and growth factors. In the study, 30 days of exercise raised dopamine levels by 40% and BDNF levels by 60%. So exercise helps the brain in the short, middle, and long term. It can help prevent and manage brain-wasting diseases better than we thought.
A new study suggests that exercise could be the best way to prevent neurodegeneration (the slow loss of brain cells). Researchers found that exercise may raise many active compounds in the brain. It even raises the levels of brain chemical messengers.
Experts have long believed lifestyle drives the rise in brain-wasting diseases over the last few decades. After all, genes cannot change in a few decades. Infections have also become less common. And nutrition seems to have improved over the decades.
So what is driving the rise in brain-wasting diseases? It could be more toxins in the environment. It could also be lifestyle problems like obesity, eating too many calories, a poor diet, and too little exercise.
The more researchers study exercise, the more it surprises them. A high level of physical activity may be the best way to boost body and mind. The benefits of regular exercise are countless.
How does exercise help prevent neurodegeneration?
Experts have long known how exercise may help hold off the symptoms of brain-wasting disease. It speeds up metabolism and improves how cells make energy. It keeps mitochondria (the cell’s power plants) working. It lowers insulin resistance, and more.
New studies now confirm that regular exercise raises certain active compounds that help prevent neurodegeneration. In this study, mice ran on a wheel by choice for about 30 days. That alone raised their levels of dopamine and BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor).
Researchers were amazed. Regular exercise raised dopamine levels by as much as 40%. That is more than many drugs can do. So exercise may help mental health more than some drugs in conditions like Parkinson’s. In fact, regular exercise plus expert guidance through telehealth can also help in addiction recovery, wiping out the chance of relapse.
Earlier studies proved that exercise helps significantly in Parkinson’s. But they could not show how, or by how much. It now seems exercise does more for brain health than we once thought.
This study also found that the effect of exercise lasts for several days after it stops.
The same study found that 30 days of exercise raised BDNF levels by 60%. That is a big jump. No known drug can raise this growth factor that much.
Researchers think higher dopamine brings short and mid-term benefits in Parkinson’s. Higher BDNF brings long-term benefits. More BDNF may help prevent further neurodegeneration. It may even boost the brain’s repair work.
This study focused on Parkinson’s. But researchers think regular exercise may help in many brain and mental health disorders. For example, regular workouts could be a perfect way to beat anxiety and depression.
Exercise raises many brain chemical messengers. It also raises growth factors. So regular workouts may significantly cut the risk of other brain-wasting disorders. These include age-related decline in thinking and memory, and dementia.
Frequently asked questions
Does exercise increase dopamine?
Yes. In the study, mice ran on a wheel by choice for 30 days. Their dopamine levels rose by 40%, more than many drugs can do. That is why exercise may do more for mental health than some medicines in conditions like Parkinson’s disease.
How long does the dopamine boost from exercise last?
The effect outlasts the workout. The study found the effect of exercise was still felt several days after the mice stopped. Higher dopamine brings short and mid-term benefits. The rise in BDNF brings the long-term benefit of protecting the brain.
What is BDNF and how does exercise affect it?
BDNF, or brain-derived neurotrophic factor, is a growth factor for brain cells. Thirty days of exercise raised it by 60%. No known drug raises it that much. Higher BDNF may help prevent further neurodegeneration. It may even boost the brain’s repair work.
Can exercise help with Parkinson’s disease?
Yes. Earlier studies proved that exercise helps people with Parkinson’s significantly, but could not show how. This study points to the answer. Exercise raises dopamine, which helps in the short and mid term. It also raises BDNF, which may slow further neurodegeneration over the long term.
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