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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