Exercise gives the brain a lift.
What’s happening: A new study found that people who engage in more moderate to vigorous physical activity have larger brain volumes, especially in regions vulnerable to dementia.
Of note, researchers used Prenuvo MRI scans instead of PET imaging to uncover the link. The findings suggest neuroprotective exercise could be used preventatively and as a prescription for slowing Alzheimer’s, before symptoms appear.
Dopamine HIIT. Boosting blood flow, enhancing neural plasticity, and triggering endorphins, what’s good for the body is good for the brain — with recent studies suggesting exercise regrows brain cells, improves ADHD, and is 1.5x more effective than antidepressants.
Strengthening the case for higher intensities, lifting and HIIT are tied to longer, healthier lives.
Head game. As companies like Prenuvo, MYndspan, Kernel, and Muse make noninvasive brain scans more accessible, establishing personalized baselines could change the game.
Test-track-test approaches could catch cognitive decline earlier, while longitudinal data could quantify lifestyle interventions like exercise, diet, and meditation against brain volume.
Punchline: Staying sharp and staying fit are two sides of the same coin.
