Exercise Increases Brain Growth Factor And Receptors, Prevents Stem Cell Drop In Middle Age
Looking for that extra incentive to exercise more? Well look no further. According to researchers at the National Cheng Kung University Medical College in Taiwan, exercising may have a beneficial effect on neurogenesis, especially during middle age. Research suggests that exercise restores a brain chemical essential in the promoting the production of new stem cells.
As we have learned, the hippocampus plays an essential role in memory and learning. Inside the hippocampus, the body facilitates the division of neural stem cells and progenitors. Research has shown that a decrease in the production of these types of stem cells can result in impairment of the brain’s’ functions, such as learning and memory. The team of researchers built on earlier studies that the production of stem cells in the hippocampus drops off during middle age.
The researchers targeted two variables that may potentially cause this decrease in production: a rise in corticosterone or a fall in nerve growth (neurotrophic) factor. Their tests tracked mice at varying ages, some of which were subjected to exercise. By monitoring their neurogenesis, age, exercise, serum corticosterone levels and brain derived neurotrophic factor and its receptors, the team was able to find that exercise significantly reduces the loss of new nerve cells in middle aged mice.
They found that at middle age, stem cell numbers of the mice were 5% of what they were in the younger mice. Their findings also showed that the production of neural stem cells improved by about 200% for the mice subjected to exercise, and that survival and growth of these new stem cells improved by 170-190%. After conducting the research, it was evident that the drop in stem cell production was not due to a drop in corticosterone level, but due to an increase in the neurotrophic factor and its receptors. This article intrigued me with its idea that physical health plays an important role in our mental health, and that exercise not only helps keep our body in shape, but our mind and intellect as well.
Shawn Schepel
VTPP 434-502
Source:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081118071144.htm
As we have learned, the hippocampus plays an essential role in memory and learning. Inside the hippocampus, the body facilitates the division of neural stem cells and progenitors. Research has shown that a decrease in the production of these types of stem cells can result in impairment of the brain’s’ functions, such as learning and memory. The team of researchers built on earlier studies that the production of stem cells in the hippocampus drops off during middle age.
The researchers targeted two variables that may potentially cause this decrease in production: a rise in corticosterone or a fall in nerve growth (neurotrophic) factor. Their tests tracked mice at varying ages, some of which were subjected to exercise. By monitoring their neurogenesis, age, exercise, serum corticosterone levels and brain derived neurotrophic factor and its receptors, the team was able to find that exercise significantly reduces the loss of new nerve cells in middle aged mice.
They found that at middle age, stem cell numbers of the mice were 5% of what they were in the younger mice. Their findings also showed that the production of neural stem cells improved by about 200% for the mice subjected to exercise, and that survival and growth of these new stem cells improved by 170-190%. After conducting the research, it was evident that the drop in stem cell production was not due to a drop in corticosterone level, but due to an increase in the neurotrophic factor and its receptors. This article intrigued me with its idea that physical health plays an important role in our mental health, and that exercise not only helps keep our body in shape, but our mind and intellect as well.
Shawn Schepel
VTPP 434-502
Source:http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081118071144.htm
posted by Shawn Schepel at 3:45 PM
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