Which Exercise Type Is Best For Your Brain?

We all know that exercise is good for you. But is there a specific type (weight lifting, CrossFit, running, bodybuilding, etc) that will actually lead to better long term brain health? Watch this week's video to find out!

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REFERENCES:

[1] Aimone, J. B., Li, Y., Lee, S. W., Clemenson, G. D., Deng, W., & Gage, F. H. (2014). Regulation and function of adult neurogenesis: from genes to cognition. Physiological reviews, 94(4), 991-1026.

[2] Shors, T. J., Anderson, M. L., Curlik, D., & Nokia, M. S. (2012). Use it or lose it: how neurogenesis keeps the brain fit for learning. Behavioural brain research, 227(2), 450-458.

[3] Clelland, C. D., Choi, M., Romberg, C., Clemenson, G. D., Fragniere, A., Tyers, P., ... & Bussey, T. J. (2009). A functional role for adult hippocampal neurogenesis in spatial pattern separation. Science, 325(5937), 210-213.

[4] Snyder, J. S., Soumier, A., Brewer, M., Pickel, J., & Cameron, H. A. (2011). Adult hippocampal neurogenesis buffers stress responses and depressive behaviour. Nature, 476(7361), 458-461.

[5] Nokia, M. S., Lensu, S., Ahtiainen, J. P., Johansson, P. P., Koch, L. G., Britton, S. L., & Kainulainen, H. (2016). Physical exercise increases adult hippocampal neurogenesis in male rats provided it is aerobic and sustained.The Journal of physiology, 594(7), 1855-1873.

[6] Tucker, L. A., & Maxwell, K. (1992). Effects of weight training on the emotional well-being and body image of females: Predictors of greatest benefit. American Journal of Health Promotion, 6(5), 338-371.

[7] Cassilhas, R. C., Viana, V. A., Grassmann, V., Santos, R. T., Santos, R. F., Tufik, S. E. R. G. I. O., & Mello, M. T. (2007). The impact of resistance exercise on the cognitive function of the elderly. Medicine and science in sports and exercise, 39(8), 1401.

[8] Trujillo, C. M. (1983). The effect of weight training and running exercise intervention programs on the self-esteem of college women. International Journal of Sport Psychology.

London Ontario Personal Trainer

#exercise #brain

[googleaccount]

Can y’all enjoy and learn from the video instead of crying around

[kaguth]

This is something I've known for years but I just wanted a video to confirm it. Thanks! I do mixed training with weights and cardio but when people ask why I do cardio when it's not the best way to look "yoked" I say because I suffer from OCD and it's the only thing that keeps me sane.

[whatwouldhousedo]

I wouldn't be surprised if running is the best. Looking at our evolution as hunter gatherers, the majority of our physical activity during a typical day would have been walking or running to get food; there would likely not have been many activities that would correlate to HIIT during life in the savannah, and lifting would have been carrying prey or other food back to camp, not repeatedly doing the same motion with weight over and over; therefore there would be no real benefit from an evolutionary standpoint for those types of activities regarding neurogenesis Also, as running would be the first response to a dangerous stressor like a predator, we of course should have the largest effects shown in brain chemistry and function here as well- we would need to create memories of dangerous events or good food sources, meaning that the necessary neurochemicals used to initialize memory would be created by the exercise involved.

[muCephei_]

Screw what they say. As a skinny guy, I wanted to gain muscle which means no or little cardio, but I what's the point of big muscles with a mediocre heart health? I think strong heart is more important

[sanketsanket]

dude show some enthusiasm while talking...you'll get more views

[andymeza]

I do both feel great and it’s true running improves focus

[theaudioman]

I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on the different types of exercise combined

[galaxymetta]

Maybe it is the length of exercise that stimulates the brain, rather than the type of exercise. Running just happen to last longer.

[benjiroantazo]

I could say most people are muscle heads. Indeed they love more pleasure than you think.

[gautamanand]

i think aerobic exercises gonna help improving brain capabilities

[dianamelissak]

May I clarify? Under Reference 5; article mentioned aerobic exercises and running was not emphasised in particular. To my understanding, When practiced in this way, examples of cardiovascular or aerobic exercise are medium to long distance running or jogging, swimming, cycling, and walking. Hence, the aforementioned exercises are inclusive to attain enhanced AHN in our brain.

[jwyhevn]

using a preliminary rat study to draw conclusions... jeez

[Tom-vrop]

I’ve been consistently weight training for over 2 years now but in the last 6 months ish I did hardly any running or any sort of cardio. I’m stronger than I’ve ever been but I really feel like my brain has changed. I’m less motivated, less focused and have a worse memory.

[elainenilsson]

Insulin Like Growth Factor is probably credited for this...which exercise releases the most IGF?

[MultiMobCast]

The rat studies are a bit problematic because muscular strength is no where near as useful to a rat than cardio

[cozmo]

Dude u need to relax a bit more, u look stiff and ur reading is a bit robotic.

[AbCDef-zsuj]

So the studies said that resistance training didn't improve brain function, but you conclude that it actually does improve brain function on the grounds that any safe exercise will improve brain function...
Why even bother with the studies if, at the end of the day, you're just going to beg the question like that?