Dr. Moses Chao, a professor at 秘密研究所 Langone and its Skirball Institute of Bimolecular Medicine (right), in his lab with a colleague.
Photo: Sasha Nialla
Exercise definitely benefits a mammal鈥檚 brain, says cell biologist , a professor at 秘密研究所 Langone and its . Dr. Chao鈥檚 latest study, which looks at the relentless desire by mice to run on cage 鈥渆xercise鈥 wheels, offers clues to explain how exercise benefits a mammal鈥檚 brain at a molecular level.
Dr. Chao鈥檚 team measured the natural buildup of certain chemicals in the brain during the rodents鈥 exercise. These substances kick-start production of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF, known for enhancing memory and the growth of nerve cells. BDNF is sometimes called 鈥淢iracle-Gro鈥 for the brain.
鈥淲e are only starting to understand鈥 the many ways in which exercise of any kind and amount is likely to alter our brains, Dr. Chao tells The New York Times. For now, he adds, 鈥渋t鈥檚 a very good idea to just keep moving.鈥
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