Running Results In Brain Enhancements, Study Says

The brain is a fickle thing, with much of its functionality being partially dependent on how healthy the whole body is. Science has long proven the connection between mental acuity and fitness. However, new research has shown that running actually results in better brain enhancement than previously thought.

The study involved scanning the brains of endurance runners with an MRI machine and compared them with more sedentary subjects, MedicalXpress reports. Behind the research are scientists from the University of Arizona, and they used subjects in the young adult category, which are basically 18 to 25-year-olds.

Results from the MRI scans show that those who participated in endurance running exhibited significantly more connected brain functionality compared to their more sedentary counterparts. Connectivity in the frontal cortex is particularly interesting, given that most of the brain’s cognitive functions rely on that particular part.

In terms of actual cognitive performance, however, more study is needed in order to determine if there is any difference between sedentary and active participants. If there is, the question then is, how much?

Regardless, the researchers published their findings in the Frontiers in Human Neuroscience journal, which will doubtless prove useful for future research into understanding how exercise affects the human brain. According to one of the designers of the study, David Raichlen, the biggest distinction between their research and those done over a 15-year period is the age of the subjects.

In a press release by the university, Raichlen explained that although much research has been done on the effects of exercise on the brain, most of the subjects have been in the older age bracket. Raichlen and his team wanted to focus on subjects under the age of 30, where data is still scarce. This is particularly important in an age where technology is making young people less and less physically active.