Big Brain Energy
Every semester, Dr. Brent Iverson gives his organic chemistry students an irresistible offer: if 20% of the class runs or walks 3.1 miles, then there is no nomenclature (a dreaded topic) on the final exam. To motivate his students, Iverson brings in a variety of guest speakers to class—each of whom have motivational stories that highlight the impact that running has had on them. All of the guest speakers share a common message: exercise literally changed their life.
But exactly how?
Exercise has always been sold as the all-encompassing solution for improving physical health and increasing happiness through endorphin release. However, neuroscience reveals that exercise also has the potential to positively alter your brain on a long-term scale.
A study from the Universities of Pittsburgh and Illinois, Urbana-Champaign revealed that aerobic exercise increased hippocampal volume by 2%. As you grow older, the hippocampus, which is a part of the brain that controls learning and memory, naturally shrinks. However, aerobic exercise helps slow the rate of shrinkage, thus reversing 1-2 years of cognitive decline. It has also been proven that exercise helps improve our spatial memory, which is related to the way our brain processes the relative location of the world around us. So, in conclusion: exercise literally makes you smarter. Talk about big brain energy.
The correlation between exercise and cognitive health was one of the first findings in the sector of health neuroscience, which is a relatively new field that explores the bidirectional relationship between the brain and general health. This field looks at the brain as not only an organ that is affected by external factors, but also as an important indicator for health. Below are just a few examples of the practical examples of health neuroscience.
Physical Activity and Gray Matter
Studies have shown that a greater integrity of gray matter in the brain is associated with higher levels of physical fitness. Since gray matter volume is often studied in order to diagnose dementia and other memory related problems, neurologists are able to use this information to diagnose and sometimes even predict the development of cognitive impairment. A study by Colcombe et al. directly proved the existence of this bidirectional relationship in humans by showing how physical activity led to greater gray matter volume, and how it consequently reduced the risk for cognitive decline two-fold.
The Belly and Brain
Recent discoveries have shown that the brain also shares this same bidirectional relationship with gut health. The gut-brain axis serves as the primary line of communication, and the vagus nerve is the main component of this intimate relationship between our brains and bellies. Animal studies have proved that stress inhibits the vagus nerve and thus causes gastrointestinal problems. Similarly in humans, it has been found that common gastrointestinal conditions, such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or Crohn’s disease, are often associated with a reduced vagal tone.
Immunity and Learning
Considered two separate systems for a long time, the brain and the immune system share important links. Jonathan Kipnis from the University of Virginia first proved this connection after performing an experiment on mice in which he removed all their T-cells. The result? The mice appeared to have significant issues with their memory. Kipnis later discovered that T-cells are mediated by a cytokine that prevents macrophages from inhibiting a protein important for learning and memory. Without the presence of the T-cells, the macrophages were able to inhibit this protein, causing the mice to experience memory problems.
Health neuroscience has the potential to shift healthcare to be more preventative rather than diagnostic, thus fulfilling a similar purpose as public health but on an individual scale. Especially since many neurological disorders stem from old age, it is likely that, as society progresses, an increasing number of public health campaigns will stem from the field of health neuroscience. As for now, just remember: exercise, eat healthy, and maintain good hygiene. Your brain will truly thank you!
Thumbnail image credit to Milad B. Fakurian, courtesy of Unsplash.