The document discusses the relationship between physical exercise and brain function. It summarizes that while conventional wisdom linked physical and mental health, science has recently studied this connection further. Exercise increases blood flow to the brain, supplying more nutrients. However, its benefits cannot be fully explained by increased blood flow alone. Exercise also activates processes that maintain and protect nerve cells, and may help reduce the impact of neurodegenerative diseases. When exercising, the brain coordinates metabolic pathways and bodily functions, but also influences the functional properties of neurons themselves. Studies suggest growth factors stimulated by exercise may protect the brain from internal and external threats, enhancing its functions.

1. Relationshipbetweenthebrain and physicalexercise. Listening and Speaking III

2. Althoughconventionalwisdomisreflected in theoldRomandictum, "Mens sana in corpore sano" alreadyacknowledgedtheobviousconnectionbetweenphysical and mental health, thescientificcommunityonlyrecently has beengiventotherelationshipbetweenexercise and brainfunction. Initiallyitwasthoughtthatthe positive effects of exerciseweredueprimarilytothe cerebral bloodflowincreasessignificantly, so thatbraincells are betteroxygenated and nourished, whichhelpstomakethemhealthier.

3. Evenbeingthisanimportant, exercise produces a variety of effectsonthebrain, which are onlynowbeginningtoknow, and cannotbeexplainedsolelyby a highersupply of nutrients. Forexample, notonlyintellectualactivityisimportantformaintainingtheintellectualcapacity as yougrowolder, exerciseistoo, and still do notunderstandhow. The exercise has provedanexcellentmethod of protectionagainstneurodegenerativediseases, and mayevenhelp reduce theimpact of thesediseases.

4. Basically, theexerciseseemstoactivate a series of processesresponsibleformaintaining and protectingthenervecells, whichwecallneuron-physiologicalsystems. Ifexerciseprotectsthebrainfrombothinternal and externalattackstowhichitissubjectedthroughoutlife, itisclearthat a sedentarylifestyle, verymarked in modernsocietiesis a risk factor forneurodegenerativediseases, suchdevastating in today'ssociety.

5. Humanphysiology has developed, therefore, tomeetthesephysicalneeds, and indeed, requiresit. Tounderstandthehumanbodyneedsphysicalactivitytomaintain a set of basicfunctions. We can summarizebysayingthatthefunctionalcapacity of neuronsdependsonthe use made of themis a continuousoptimization of resources, are engaged in a task as manyneurons as ittakes, and ifthetaskincreasinglyrequires more dedication, numberorfunctionalcapacity of neuronsincreases.

6. Howphysicalexercisestimulatesthebrain? Whenperforming a physicalactivity, apartfromcoordinatingthemovement of themusclesinvolved in themovementthatistaking place, thebraincoordinatesallbodilyfunctionsnecessaryforthesemusclestofunctionproperly in a situationthatbasicallyrequires a higherenergyconsumption. The metabolicpathwaysactivated and controlledbythebrainreasonablywellknownforyears, and are described in detail in textbooks of physiology. However, there are changes in thebrain, which are notrelatedto control of metabolicfunctionsassociatedwiththeimplementation of theexercise, such as breathing, heartrateorglucoseuptake, butthefunctionalproperties of neuronsthemselves.

7. Twoindependentlines of workhavemaderecently are paying more attentiontotheconnectionbetweenexercise and brainfunction. The firstconcernstheobservation of a fewdecadesagothattheenvironmentinfluences in unexpectedways in thedevelopment and maintenance of learningability and memory. And formerexperiments show thatenvironmentsthatprovidethegreatestamount and quality of stimuli favor greaterbraindevelopment, bothfromthestandpoint of anatomical and functional.

8. The endocrine axis of pituitarygrowth hormone (GH) and hepatic IGF-I controlsthegrowth of manytissues and theirproperfunctioning. Recentobservations also indicatethatthebrainwouldbe a target organ of thetrophicactions of IGF-I liver, including a protectiveeffectagainstinternal and externalaggressions.

9. Thereisalreadyenoughevidencetosuggestthatthistrophicsubstancestimulatedbyexerciseisone of thoseresponsibleforthe beneficial effects of exerciseonthebrain (see Figure 2). Onreachingthebrain, IGF-I stimulatestheproduction of othertrophicsubstances, whichincidentally are thesamethatencouragesexercise, also increasestheactivity of neurons, enhancesthebrain'sabilitytoreceiveinformationfromthebody, stimulatesbloodflowtothebrain, increasesglucoseuptakebyneurons and protectsneuronsfromalltypes of conditionsthat can cause malfunctionorevendeath.

10. Figure 2: The performance of moderatephysicalactivity in laboratoryrodentswhohadvaryingdegrees of motor impairmentbeforestartingexerciseproducedsubstantialimprovements in their motor skills. In onegroup of mice, "moderatelydisabled" (left panel), animals are unabletoholdonto a roller in constantmotionforover 200 seconds. Thistaskisvery simple to do for normal healthyanimalscapable of walkingonthe roll foranindefiniteperiod, althoughtheyhave more than 360 secondstoavoidmotivation.

11. After a week of moderateexercise (running 1 km / hour / day) of sickanimalshave a normal motor skillscontinuetobemaintainedwhileexercising. In a secondgroup of animals, "severelydisabled" (right panel), theexercisenotonlysignificantlyincreasesthe motor ability (althoughnotreaching normal levels), but more importantisthefactthatanimalswhoexercisesurvivemuchlonger and in bettercondition. This can beinterpreted as thatexercisekeepsalive neuronal groupsthat are essentialforlife.

12. Knowingthemechanismsbywhichphysicalexerciseis beneficial tothebrainisnot of purelyacademicinterest. Forexample, wemayallowthedevelopment of therapeuticstrategiesbasedonbetterknowledge of thesemechanisms. Of coursethebestoptionistoexercise as a preventivemeasure and maintenance. Itis in the case of pathologicalconditionsthatprecludeexercise training whenthealternatives are important.

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