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Science Says Exercise (or Even Just Stretching) Will

Make Your Brain Bigger The best brain hack around just happens
to also be the easiest one to do.

BY PETER ECONOMY, THE LEADERSHIP GUY @BIZZWRITER

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In a recent study by the Radiological Society of North America,

researchers have found that exercise over a long period of time is

actually able to increase brain volume. Using a new MRI technique, the study
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participants with 2020.mild cognitive impairment (MCI), who
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 exercised four times a week over a period of six months, actually saw growth

in brain size in speci c areas of the brain.

And even more interesting, those who consistently participated in aerobic

exercise--rather than just stretching--actually demonstrated more growth than

those who simply stretched.

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 Laura Baker, the study's primary investigator at Wake Forest University, said,

"Even over a short period of time, we saw aerobic exercise lead to a

remarkable change in the brain."

35 adults previously diagnosed with MCI were split into two groups for the

study: one control group of 19 who simply stretched with the same frequency,

and another group of 16 who performed aerobic exercise. MRI images were

taken of participants before and after the study for comparison; conventional

and biomechanical metrics were employed in order to adequately determine

change in brain size and shape.

Dr. Jeongchul Kim, co-investigator on the study, shared that, compared to the
stretching group, "the aerobic activity group had greater preservation of total

brain volume, increased local gray matter volume, and increased directional

stretch of brain tissue."

In general, the study helped conclude that any kind of exercise could

ultimately be bene cial in improving brain function, no matter how low-

impact. Measured directional changes in the MRI could also provide a marker

for miniscule changes that occur in speci c regions before actual volumetric

changes are able to be seen on MRI.

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 Participants were also tested on overall cognitive performance, and the e ect

of exercise on cognitive function. Those who performed aerobic exercise for

the six months reportedly demonstrated markedly signi cant improvement in

cognition after the study, while those in the stretching group showed no

change.

So, no matter how little or how much we're able to exercise in our daily life, it

might be worthwhile to just how much consistent movement can a ect our
brain function.

DEC 15, 2016

The opinions expressed here by Inc.com columnists are their own, not those of Inc.com.

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