Exercise and the Brain

It's important to be fit.

It's also important to be up to date.

A recent circular from Jon Benson prattles on about exercise and the brain and how it's in the March 26th edition of Newsweek.

His information is TWO YEARS OLD!

Are Americans really that stupid that they regard an article two years old as being exciting new information?

Here's what Jon said in his newsletter:

"FIT OVER 40
Success For Life e-Zine
March 4, 2009"

"Exercise And The Brain"

The cover went on to say that exercise is now proven to make us smarter. It may help fight
breast cancer and Alzheimer's in the process. These benefits were obtained in one study
with only three months of vigorous exercise. Twelve weeks! Are you kidding me?

Oh, and one more thing -- This same exercise plan did was was thought to be impossible: it grew new nerve cells in the brain.

Let me tell you what that means --

You could get smarter as you get older. You could reverse or stop mind diseases like Alzheimer's and dementia. You could think 'faster' as well as clearer. And, according to this same study, these results happen "no matter your age."

The conclusion?

"A strong and active body is crucial for building a strong and active mind."

This is nothing new to the great thinkers and philosophers in history. The Greeks believed in a marriage of the mind and body. Without a healthy body, a healthy mind was
impossible. Their artwork reflects this belief, as do the works of Plato and Socrates.

But now we can measure this belief and turn it into scientific fact. That's exactly what
scientists as Harvard and UCLA are doing. One of the key players in this mind/body
boon is IGF-1, a protein responsible for the production of hormones, namely human
growth-hormone. This is called the "anti-aging" hormone. Perhaps now we know why.

The higher the levels of IGF-1, the greater the level of another nifty chemical: Brain-
Derived Neurotrophic Factor, or BDNF. BDNF appears to prompt the brain's nerve
cells to spread out and communicate more
efficiently with one another.

So, vigorous exercise, like I describe in Fit Over 40, stimulates IGF-1, which in turn
creates more BDNF...which makes you smarter.

Wow.

And it gets better.

Exercise has been demonstrated to improve memory. This should be a major "ah-ha!" moment for any of you concerned about age-related memory loss. Exercise was shown to increase blood volume in an area of the brain known as the dentate gyrus. This suggests new cells were formed. New "memory cells", if you will.

This is TRUE "anti-aging" folks. We're talking new cells in our brains and greater levels of
the youth hormones...namely IGF-1. The article went on to say this:

"Unlike neurogenesis, which can take weeks to occur, these results (with exercise) appear
almost immediately. Get off the treadmill...and within 48 minutes your brain will be in better shape."

Don't just read newsletters from out of date lazy hacks - keep up to date and exercise!