The Brain Body Connection: How Jogging Can Improve Your Memory
People around the world use exercise to stay healthy. A simple and popular form of exercise is jogging. But what biological effect does jogging really have on the body? Jogging in specific was studied by a collaborative of researchers from the University of Tehran, among other institutions, in 2022. They explored the effects of jogging on mice and rats.
The team found that a variety of distances, speeds, lengths of time, and duration of routine (weeks or months) had varying effects. In the study, the main type of jogging investigated involved treadmill running for 30 minutes a day over a long-term period from about four weeks to three months. Overall, there was evidence that this leads to improvements in spatial memory and learning. Additionally, running promoted the addition of new memories to old ones, signifying the growth of memory formation. The specific biological systems that running affects are the brain signals related to memory response, memory retrieval, and even recovery from memory impairment.
The team found that a variety of distances, speeds, lengths of time, and duration of routine (weeks or months) had varying effects. In the study, the main type of jogging investigated involved treadmill running for 30 minutes a day over a long-term period from about four weeks to three months. Overall, there was evidence that this leads to improvements in spatial memory and learning. Additionally, running promoted the addition of new memories to old ones, signifying the growth of memory formation. The specific biological systems that running affects are the brain signals related to memory response, memory retrieval, and even recovery from memory impairment.
Running is more than just a way to keep your body fit; research shows that memory and brain activity improve as well.
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One of the signals that has been found to have a significant effect is brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF and the signal receptor to which it attaches are an integral part of the signal systems that create and store memory. Through measuring BDNF levels and subsequent results on memory, scientists found that jogging increased BDNF levels, which increased synaptic activity levels. Synaptic activity means that more messages are sent between nerve cells, or neurons, which is used as an indication of a healthy and active brain that is able to learn and process memory.
Another neurological effect of running includes increased levels of cAMP responsive element-binding protein (CREB). CREB is a protein active in the hippocampus, where most of the processes of learning and memory happen. Scientists found that running increases CREB, but also that the overexpression of CREB can help repair damaged long-term memory systems.
A final chemical released during jogging was higher levels of norepinephrine in parts of the brain most associated with memory. Increasing levels of norepinephrine has been found to be associated with the storing and recall of memories.
From these studies, it can be concluded that there is a long-term benefit of jogging. Jogging has long been touted as a healthy exercise, and now its biological effect on memory capacity has been explored more definitively.
Another neurological effect of running includes increased levels of cAMP responsive element-binding protein (CREB). CREB is a protein active in the hippocampus, where most of the processes of learning and memory happen. Scientists found that running increases CREB, but also that the overexpression of CREB can help repair damaged long-term memory systems.
A final chemical released during jogging was higher levels of norepinephrine in parts of the brain most associated with memory. Increasing levels of norepinephrine has been found to be associated with the storing and recall of memories.
From these studies, it can be concluded that there is a long-term benefit of jogging. Jogging has long been touted as a healthy exercise, and now its biological effect on memory capacity has been explored more definitively.
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