Does running make you smarter or simply just stronger? In fact, it does a combination of both, as science has shown that it will indeed break the traditional concepts and ideas of running.
How does running make you smarter?
In a research funded by the National Institutes of Health, they initially found that neurogenesis, or the process of creating neurons in the brain increases as the body exercises or in this case, running for health.
These neurons then form into clusters in the brain that is responsible for memory and rational thinking. Similar tests were conducted with animals and yielding the same effects.
Researchers pointed out that as mental stimulation is good for the brain, physical stimulation has been found to be more superior at promoting good brain health. They initially wanted to know what takes place in the brain and the muscles, which actively work during exercise.
Although the scientists agree that the process is very complex, they believe that they may be able to go deeper into studying the specific impacts of exercise to mental and cognitive functions.
Even the cell think they were running
Thanks to a muscle protein called Cathepsin B, researchers found that this protein that promotes good muscle recovery and health, somehow plays a role in enhancing brain functions.
The researchers first isolated muscle cells from mice and that they mixed with a peptide that affects cell metabolism, which made the cells react as if it was running.
Using mass spectrometry, they analyzed the chemicals that the muscle cells released, specifically those that were found to cross the blood-brain barrier and found significant amounts of the protein Cathepsin B.
This protein has been known to aid muscle recovery and helps counteract muscle soreness by clearing out cellular debris.
Image Credit: Can Running Make You Smarter? – New York Times
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