Sunday, February 23, 2014

How Exercise Increases Cognitive Function

As health professionals we are striving to create more awareness of the positive physiological effects exercise has on the body. One of the more recent and predominant topics studied is how exercise increases cognitive function. The potential biological mechanisms linking exercise and cognitive function are seen in neural development where the hormone IGF-1 increases. IGF-1 is an essential hormone responsible for the growth and development in humans. Overall IGF-1 prevents the loss of brain tissue and increases Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) release.  This release of BDNF has been shown to increase the growth of new neurons (neurogenesis) and assist with changing the pathways in the brain (neuroplasticity).1,2

References:
1. Carro, E., Nunez, A., & Busiguina, S. (2000). Circulating insulin-like growth factor 1 mediates effects of exercise on the brain. The Journal of Neuroscience, 20(8), 2926–2933.

2. Davis, C. L., Tomporowski, P. D., McDowell, J. E., Austin, B. P., Miller, P. H., Yanasak, N. E., … Naglieri, J. A. (2011). Exercise improves executive function and achievement and alters brain activation in overweight children: a randomized, controlled trial. Health Psychology, 30(1), 91-98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0021766


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