Step 93: Use Your Brain -- Exercise

You know that exercise is good for your bones, your muscles, your heart, your cholesterol, etc., but what about that organ that sits between your ears, your brain? After all, your brain is you. A surgeon can transplant any other part of your body, and you would still be you. But if you received a new brain, you would become someone else.

What happens to your brain when you exercise? We know that on any exertion, blood is shifted from the unessential parts of the body -- such as the intestine and kidneys -- to the arms and legs, where the work is going on. The brain, however, is spared this diversion, so adequate blood supply is constantly assured. It continues to receive its pint and a half of blood every minute. As we study the evolutionary chain, the brain grows in proportion to the complexity of the movements the animal makes. Predatory animals have bigger brains than prey animals, and this brain is associated with more intricate lifestyles. Fit people have faster nerve conduction, in accord with the "use it or lose it" principle. It makes sense, then, that the more you practice some movement, the more efficient the muscles, circulation and nerves become.

Grow Your Brain

Whatever part of the brain is involved in an activity will grow, just as a muscle does when it is used. Neuroscientist Marian Diamond showed that Albert Einstein's parietal lobes, the associative part, were huge. In a similar way, violinists, bakers and car mechanics each have brains that reflect parts of the brain they use most.

Growth and development require several things: an energy flow, growth factors, circulatory support and adequate nutrition. All of these elements are provided by exercise. Exercise prompts the release of adrenaline, a very potent brain stimulant. We are more alert when adrenaline is present; sleep occurs in its absence.

Exercise Increases IQI was thrilled when I read a research paper by Bob Dustman in Salt Lake City. He selected a group of older people and tested them before and after an exercise protocol. Not only did all the predicted other benefits ensue, but the IQs of these people went up as well. A more recent experiment reported from North Carolina showed that a six-week brisk walking program increased the cognitive abilities of older people 7.5 percent. Wow! Exercise increases IQ! That's something, but on reflection it makes sense that it should be true.

Bottom Line: MoveSo we learn another benefit of an exercise program. It is reported that smart people exercise more. Do they exercise because they are smart, or are they smart because they exercise? As you age, you are at risk for loss of brainpower. Most of this loss is not due to age, but is instead the result of pulling back from the business of being fully alive. Think, move, think, move. Your brain will thank you for it.