Exercise boosts your brainpower
Fri, 13 Apr 2007 10:37:23
Exercise boosts brainpower by building new cells in
the part of the brain linked with memory and memory
loss, according to new studies.
Tests on mice showed that they grew new cells in an area
called the dentate gyrus, a part of the hippocampus that
is known to be affected in the age-related memory
decline that begins around age 30 for most humans.
Researchers used magnetic resonance imaging scans to
help document the process in mice and then used MRIs to
look at the brains of people before and after exercise.
They found the same patterns, suggesting that people
also grow new brain cells when they exercise, Reuters
has reported
Researchers recruited 11 healthy adults and made them
undergo a three-month aerobic exercise regime.
They carried out MRIs of their brains before and after
strenuous activities. They also measured the fitness of
each volunteer by measuring oxygen volume before and
after the training program.
Exercise generates blood flow to the dentate gyrus.
Researchers have found that the fitter the person, the
more blood flow the MRI detected.
