“Brain boost” workout protects against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s

There’s a reason why you feel so good after exercise…

Movement increases oxygen and blood flow throughout your body and releases feel-good hormones, like endorphins and serotonin.

But beyond the physical perks, could exercise offer your brain the greatest protection of all?

Unique brain protection

New research published in The Journal of Physiology found that high-intensity exercise—like cycling—can delay the onset of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Researchers investigated how activities influence brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which promotes neuroplasticity and neuron survival.

(Animal studies show that increasing the availability of BDNF helps with the formation and storage of memories, learning, and cognitive performance.)

The study compared the effects of 20-hour fasting, light exercise (90-minute, low-intensity cycling), high-intensity exercise (six-minute bouts of vigorous cycling), and combined fasting and exercise.

It turns out, brief, high-intensity exercise offered the most benefit—boosting BDNF by four- to five-fold!

Personalize your routine

You know I’m a huge advocate of exercise.

I’m always encouraging you to move your body, even if it’s “just” a daily walk.

But I also understand why high-intensity training might sound, well, intense. And if the phrase discourages you from giving a new activity, like cycling, a try, let’s break it down a bit more.

Simply aim to achieve three minutes of moderate-to-vigorous exercise—or twelve minutes of light activity—for every hour (60 minutes) of sitting. 

When it comes to choosing your high-intensity exercise, remember you have options. My favorite is cycling—but you can also try swimming, climbing stairs, or bodyweight training.

The goal is to put forth a few periods of intense effort, followed by brief recovery periods, in a cycle that feels good to you.

One last thing: For additional, all-natural ways to further fight against neurodegenerative diseases, check out my Alzheimer’s Prevention and Treatment Plan. Click here now!

Source:

“Six minutes of daily high-intensity exercise could delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.” MedicalXpress, 01/11/2023. (medicalxpress.com/news/2023-01-minutes-daily-high-intensity-delay-onset.html)