Do You Know that Exercise Helps You Keep a Healthy Brain Even if You’re Inactive? Here’s What Research Finds
We all know that sitting all day and doing almost nothing is bad for health. But a recent study has brought some good news for people whose daily job demands sitting the whole time: Your everyday short period of exercise shields your brain, even if you are otherwise inactive or sedentary.
That's due to the fact that exercise helps keep your brain's cortex, the outermost layer, thick and healthy.
As we age, our brain's cortex naturally thins, a process called "cortical thinning," which has been linked to age-related cognitive deterioration, specifically when it takes place "in the frontal and temporal lobes," in control of our memory, attention, and planning.
The new study presents that we can avoid the thinning of the cortex in a couple of approaches. One of which, according to research, is "with regular moderate to vigorous physical activity" like cycling for one.
On the other hand, the other approach is restricting sedentary or inactive behavior like sitting at a desk the whole day. What has been clear, the study authors said, is if exercise can shield from the thinning "independent of being otherwise inactive.
ALSO READ: Exercising Quickly Activates 'Nootropic Effect' in Younger Adults, New Study Finds
Sedentary Behavior Studied
To achieve results, a group of British Columbia researchers gauged the levels of activity, sedentary behavior, and thickness of cortex of 30 adult individuals, aged 61 years on the average, who had been signed up in another study on "increasing exercise and decreasing sedentary time" among adults who have osteoarthritis of the knee.
Specifically, using MRI scanning to gauge cortical thickness, the scientists followed their exercise and sedentary time of participants who used fitness trackers for seven consecutive days.
As a result, the group found "an average of 70 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day, and they spent almost 12 hours each day, doing activities, nothing more strenuous than book reading or internet browsing outside of their daily workout.
DON'T MISS THIS: 6 Reasons Why You're Gaining Weight Unintentionally
A new study presents that we can avoid the thinning of the cortex in a couple of approaches. One of which is ‘with regular moderate to vigorous physical activity’ like cycling, for one.
The Link Between Physical Activity and Cortical Thickness Found
When the study authors crunched the data and compared the brain scans, as a result, they found that high physical activity levels were linked to "greater cortical thickness," particularly in the frontal areas, irrespective of their sedentary time.
Furthermore, there was no link found between thinning or less thickness and more significant amounts of inactive behavior outside of physical activity or exercise.
The researchers wrote in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. One probable explanation for such finding is that "higher amount of moderate to vigorous physical activity or MVPA" offers a robust neuroprotective reaction, ameliorating the adverse consequence of too much sedentary behavior or SB.
As indicated in the research, keeping the cortex thick with regular exercise can help ward off disorder and dementia.
The study authors also specified in their research that meeting present guidelines for the exercise of at least 150 minutes each week or an equivalent of 30 minutes each day, of "moderate to exercise decreases the risk of Alzheimer's disease by up to 38 percent."
Scientists define moderate to vigorous exercise as any activity that increases metabolism at least thrice what it is at rest.
Essentially, cycling around 10 minutes per hour has a value of four metabolic equivalents or METs. This means that the activity forces one to use "four-time the oxygen that he does at rest." Therefore, those easy rounds of cycling can help maintain a healthy brain.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Is Excessive Exercise Linked to Eating Disorders? Here's What Studies Say
Check out more news and information on Exercise Routines on MD News Daily.
Oct 04, 2020 10:30 PM EDT
