by A new study published in the Journal of Physiology shows that short but intense cycling increases the production of a specific protein critical for brain formation, learning and memory that protects the brain from age-related damage. cognitive decline. This finding could lead to the development of accessible and affordable non-drug methods to improve the health of older adults. A specific protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) improves neuroplasticity and the survival of neurons. Animal studies have shown that increasing the availability of BDNF promotes memory formation and storage, enhances learning, and improves cognitive performance in general. The researchers compared fasting for 20 hours, light exercise (90 minutes of low-intensity cycling), high-intensity exercise (6 minutes of vigorous cycling), and a combination of fasting and exercise. They found that short but intense bouts of exercise were the most effective way to increase BDNF compared to a day of fasting. BDNF increased 4-5 times compared with fasting (no change in BDNF concentration) or prolonged exercise (slight increase in BDNF concentration).
