Beckman Institute Study of Aerobics vs Brain
Aerobic Exercise Effects on the Human Brain
Feb 11, 2009
During age-related decline aerobic fitness exercise benefits the human brain, according to a controlled study by The Beckman Institute, Department of Psychology, University of Illinois, at Urbana, Illinois. The article, dated November 2006, is titled Aerobic Exercise Training Increases Brain Volume in Aging Humans. The authors are:
- Colcombe SJ
- Erickson KI
- Scalf PE
- Kim JS
- Prakash R. McAuley E
- Elavsky S. Marquez DX
- Hu L
- Kramer AF
The purpose of the study was to determine if older people, aged 60-79 years, can with aerobic fitness training increase brain volume in the areas of the brain associated with age-related loss. The study is published on the PubMed web site. PubMed is published on-line by the U.S. National Center for Biotechnology Information, and is sponsored by the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the U.S. National Institutes of Health.
The study method involved fifty-nine healthy, but sedentary volunteers. During a period of six months half participated in the aerobic fitness (stimulate cardiac output and increase oxygen consumption) training group, and the other half participated in the toning and stretching (non aerobic) group. Twenty young adults served as controls for the MRI scanning, but did not participate in the exercises.
Aerobic Fitness Effects on Brain & Cardiovascular Health
The results of the Beckman Institute Study show that the MRI scans in those who participated in aerobic fitness revealed, “Significant increases in brain volume... suggest[s] that cardiovascular fitness is associated with the sparing of brain tissue in aging humans.” Those who participated in the non aerobic group showed no change in brain white or gray matter. The younger control group, who did not exercise, showed no change in brain volume. The findings state, “...results suggest a strong biological basis for the role of aerobic fitness in maintaining and enhancing central nervous system health and cognitive functioning in older adults.”
Aerobic Exercise for General Health Fitness
Another study, by the Beckman Institute, titled Aerobic Fitness Reduces Brain Tissue Loss in Aging Humans, dated February 2003, by Colcombe SJ, Erickson KI, Raz N. Webb AG, Cohen NJ, McAuley E, and Kramner AF, indicated that aerobic fitness “improves cognitive function in older adults, and can improve brain health in aging laboratory animals.” Published on the PubMed web site, the study included high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging scans (MRI) on fifty-five older (ages not included) adults. Grey and white brain matter was analyzed using health markers such as aerobic fitness, brain age-related density, as well as other (unidentified) markers. The results were, “...that losses [frontal, parietal, temporal cortices] in these areas were substantially reduced as a function of cardiovascular fitness...findings extend the scope of beneficial effects of aerobic exercise beyond cardiovascular health...solid biological basis for the benefits of exercise on brain health...”
Exercise Bikes & Treadmills for Cardiovascular Fitness
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on-line article (author unknown), dated November 18, 2008, titled Be Active Your Way: A Guide for Adults Aged 18 to 64 years, vigorous activities to stimulate the heart and increase oxygen consumption exercises include “...faster biking, fast walking, jogging, or running.” To decrease possible injury recumbent exercise bikes and treadmills can be utilized.
The results of the two controlled studies indicate that when aerobic exercise includes increasing cardiovascular output, and initiates increased oxygen consumption, the result in older people causes increases in brain matter, reduces some brain matter loss during the aging process, and enhances immune, central nervous system, and cardiovascular health.
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