Why Neuroscientists Love Running

For decades we were taught there was no stopping cognitive and physical decline, now we know it’s possible to maintain a youthful brain and body into old age using accessible means. Given the right conditions, you can continue to thrive well into old age. In fact, the personality trait of “openness to experience” was a major predictor of good physical activity at age 75, because of a willingness to participate in athletics and try new things. That means, no matter what age you are now, keeping an open and adventurous mind and trying new types of movement in your own routine can help you stay active and healthy as you get older. In this minisode, Dr. Hyman speaks with brain health experts Dr. Marwan Sabbagh and Dr. Daniel Amen, and age management medicine expert Dr. George Shapiro about the tools available to each of us to promote optimal health at any age.

Dr. Sabbagh is a board-certified neurologist and considered one of the leading experts in Alzheimer’s and dementia. He is on the editorial board for the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and BMC Neurology and is now editor in chief of Neurology and Therapy and is the author of The Alzheimer’s Answer: Reduce Your Risk and Keep Your Brain Healthy, and The Alzheimer’s Prevention Cookbook: 100 Recipes to Boost Brain Health. Dr. Sabbagh’s latest book, Fighting for My Life: How to Thrive in the Shadow of Alzheimer’s, was released last year.

The Washington Post called Dr. Daniel Amen the most popular psychiatrist in America and Discover Magazine listed his brain imaging research as the top neuroscience story for 2015. He is a double board-certified psychiatrist and ten-time New York Times bestselling author, with such blockbuster books as Change Your Brain, Change Your Life, Healing ADD, Memory Rescue, Change Your Brain, Change Your Grades, and The Daniel Plan, co-authored by Pastor Rick Warren and Dr. Mark Hyman. In March 2020, his book The End of Mental Illness will be published.

Dr. George Shapiro has been a practicing physician for 30 years, specializing in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, and age management medicine. Dr. Shapiro was the recipient of the 10th Annual Alan P. Mintz, MD Award, for Clinical Excellence in Age Management Medicine, as he has become known nationwide as an expert in age management medicine, and leads one of the most prominent age management practices in the country as president of Cenegenics New York City. He has long been known as one of New York’s foremost cardiologists, specializing in regenerative medicine and improving longevity, including the genomics of cardiovascular disease and congestive heart failure.

Tune into Dr. Hyman’s full-length conversation with Dr. Marwan Sabbagh:

Tune into Dr. Hyman’s full-length conversation with Dr. George Shapiro:

[jackjones]

Cardio intense sports are good too: Soccer (minus heading), lacrosse, tennis etc. A lot of running with those.

[felixkangwa]

Greatest life stuff always reside here; l'm happy l run daily...over 10km

[devayani.vishwarupe]

Mini byte episodes are cool!!!! Way to go Mr. Hyman

[ConnectYourBody]

Great, as always!! I follow you since one of your first book: Ultrametabolism. As a wellness and sport coach I'm glad to hear more and more information about the benefit of exercise, diet and stress reduction combine!. Faboluos mini-episode. Thanks from Spain!

[naimab]

Cellercise is powerful exercice and gives a good posture and stability

[Madi]

The problem is for the poorest of the poor, with really low paying labor jobs… Sometimes it can just be difficult to go to the gym after work – not only in terms of the cost of a gym – and some people do need a gym because their neighborhood is too dangerous To walk about in… I just wish this whole society would change in terms of valuing all of its members – I know this is kind of off-topic – but it’s still important – it’s still good Information..

[sterlingfury]

@maddie4321 is right...working poor are also less able to afford fresh, healthy food and supplements as well as gym memberships...
Sadly, these are real issues for millions 😢❤😢❤😢❤

[ethimself]

Even Dr.. David Sinclair with all of his research clearly states that exercise is sooo important - the sweaty kind.

[rakiraki]

I Think any kind of exersice are hellpful even Walking they said in the video are helpful

[MsNathaliabello]

Could it be that usually who play tennis are already rich and can afford better food, may be less exposed to environmental factors that can be bad for you, etc? Especially were in from poor people can play soccer even if it is for fun, poor people cannot play tennis with real equipments ( maybe they can adapt stuff to use as tennis equipment).

[sterlingfury]

Lions mane mushroom also increases bdnf...eat mushrooms people

[opal]

So is there another activity that senior who have bad hips and knees can do? I was a runner, but now have bad hips and knees. I have no access to table tennis...but loved the “sport” when I was young.

[lifeisgood]

I was listening to Andrew Huberman earlier today and he said that you do make new neurons but a very small and insignificant amount. Nothing that produces a meaningful effect

[matisyahup]

Getting plenty of exercise is good for your brain.
Who would have thought?

[denizliberal]

Oh my bone density is so good, Oh oh oh, my telemine are so long, they are like I am 39.. Oh oh oh, I took up tennis and I look like 19 now. Ohh. I am soo good.

[MrSuperbluesky]

Untrue the longest lived people do nt do any sports at all . They garden and walk. I agree sports are good but what you said is not true.