Running and the Brain

Need to remember something?  Take a quick run around the block or hop on your bike for a few minutes.  A short burst of moderate exercise enhances the consolidation of memories in both healthy older adults and those with mild cognitive impairment according to research done by scientists at UC Irvine's Center for the Neurobiology of Learning & Memory. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121127094315.htm  "In their study, post-doctoral researcher Sabrina Segal and neurobiologists Carl Cotman and Lawrence Cahill had people 50 to 85 years old with and without memory deficits view pleasant images -- such as photos of nature and animals -- and then exercise on a stationary bicycle for six minutes at 70 percent of their maximum capacity immediately afterward.
One hour later, the participants were given a surprise recall test on the previously viewed images. Results showed a striking enhancement of memory by exercise in both the healthy and cognitively impaired adults, compared with subjects who did not ride the bike." From the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease - "Exercise significantly elevated endogenous norepinephrine in both aMCI patients and controls. (amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI))"  Norepinephrine plays an important role in memory modulation.  

Not only does a short period of moderate exercise help your memory, but running can increase neural stem cells.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19544415

The study on mice showed that the running mice showed significant increases in neural stem cells.  "In this model of aging we found that the number of active neural stem cells dramatically declines with age, but exercise dramatically reversed this, increasing stem cell numbers." Professor Bartlett, the Director of QBI.

Blackmore DG, Golmohammadi MG, Large B, Waters MJ, Rietze RL.

Queensland Brain Institute,The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

“Our findings suggest that moderate exercise, from early to late in life, can have a very positive effect,” Dr Blackmore said. 

So not only does running help you maintain a healthy weight, http://www.dukehealth.org/health_library/news/aerobic-exercise-trumps-resistance-training-for-weight-and-fat-loss
it's also good for your brain!

Peace! Happy Trails and Merry Christmas!