Recently published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, a new study examining brain scans of more than 10,000 people suggests that even a modest amount of exercise can help increase brain volume. This is what the study revealed!
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- What did the study reveal?
- Why not 10,000 steps a day?
- How many participated in the study?
What did the study reveal?
Research indicates that taking just a few thousand steps a day may be linked to greater brain mass | Image: Pexels
Research indicates that taking just a few thousand steps a day may be linked to larger brain mass, and maintaining or increasing brain volume could have neuroprotective effects, reducing the risk of cognitive decline and dementia.
Why not 10,000 steps a day?
This contrasts with the commonly recommended 10,000 steps, making it a more achievable goal for many people. Image: Pexels
Dr. David Merrill, co-author of the study and director of the Center for Brain Health at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute, highlighted the findings, saying: “We found that even moderate levels of physical activity, such as achieving less than 4,000 steps a day, can have a positive impact on brain health.”
This contrasts with the commonly recommended 10,000 steps, making it a more achievable goal for many people.
How many participated in the study?
The study involved 10,125 participants, with an average age of 52 years, who underwent whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to assess brain volume in relation to their physical activity levels.
Whether participants engaged in activities such as walking, running or playing sports, those who engaged in moderate to vigorous exercise, which elevates heart and lung activity for at least 10 minutes, demonstrated more gray matter in crucial brain regions such as the hippocampus (associated with memory), gray matter (central for information processing) and the occipital, frontal and parietal lobes.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn