July 28, 2021, 3:25 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Daily exercise not only keeps the body fit and healthy but also benefits the brain. This has long been known in research. Now, a new study from the BRAiN Lab at Colorado State University provides initial evidence that the so-called white matter in the brain–responsible for signal transmission, among other things–can be protected from deterioration through certain forms of exercise.
Study Procedure
Walking, dancing, jogging, cycling, swimming–those who regularly engage in endurance training are likely to enjoy good memory and quick recall well into old age. A recent study describes how these are connected. It was published in the journal “NeuroImage.”1 For the study, the team led by Dr. Aga Burzynska recruited 180 middle-aged men and women who were all relatively inactive. According to the researcher, this was the ideal group to examine how effective exercise can be.
Participants were randomly divided into three groups, meeting three times a week over six months. One group walked for about 40 minutes. Another group took a dance class that became progressively more challenging. The last group, serving as the study’s control, focused on balance and stretching exercises designed to keep their heart rate low.
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Subsequently, MRI scans, as well as cognitive and cardiorespiratory tests, were used to measure how each form of exercise affected the brain. Researchers observed increased white matter in the walking and dancing groups, particularly in areas important for memory. The walking group showed improved memory and could even recall life events more accurately after the study. As for the group that performed balance and stretching exercises, researchers saw no brain benefits, but rather a normal decline in white matter.
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Whether walking, dancing, or any other form of endurance training–exercise benefits both the brain and mood. The encouraging news: It’s never too late to start. “The fact that we could show positive results in white matter in just six months in a clinical study means you don’t have to train your whole life to make a difference,” explains co-author Dr. Mendez Colmenares in a university statement.2 The results support the idea that white matter is “plastic” and can change in the short term.
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A Healthy Brain–We Have Some Control
White matter is generally seen as passive brain tissue, overshadowed by its active counterpart, gray matter, where powerful neurons reside. Nevertheless, it is significant for all processes related to learning. Disruptions negatively affect mental performance. As white matter decreases with age, forgetfulness becomes noticeable.
Therefore, research is heavily focused on finding ways to preserve or strengthen white matter. Researchers also see it as key to Alzheimer’s prevention. Time and again, as with this study, science concludes that endurance training or gentle movement has a significant impact on white matter. Even though genes may play a role, everyone fortunately has some control over their brain health.
Sources
- 1. Colmenares AM, Voss MW, Fanning J, Salerno EA, Gothe NP, Thomas ML, McAuley E, Kramer AF, Burzynska AZ. White matter plasticity in healthy older adults: The effects of aerobic exercise. NeuroImage. (2021)
- 2. Colorado State University. Aerobic exercise boosts healthy brain aging, CSU study finds. (2021)