A recent study reveals that exercise can boost brain health by releasing tiny particles in the blood called extracellular vesicles. These particles, which are released from muscles during exercise, travel to the brain and stimulate the growth of new neurons in the hippocampus, a region important for learning and memory.
Researchers found that injecting these particles into sedentary mice increased the number of new brain cells by 50% compared to mice that received particles from sedentary donors or a placebo solution. The study suggests that extracellular vesicles may be a key player in exercise-induced brain plasticity, but further research is needed to understand how they work and what molecular cargo they carry.
The findings have significant implications for understanding the mechanisms behind exercise’s benefits on mental health, including improved learning, memory, and mood regulation. Future studies could explore ways to harness the power of extracellular vesicles for developing new therapies for age-related cognitive decline and other neurological conditions.
Source: https://www.psypost.org/in-neuroscience-breakthrough-scientists-identify-key-component-of-how-exercise-triggers-neurogenesis