Scientists at Rutgers University-New Brunswick have discovered that exercise can activate special cells in the brain that help the body respond to insulin.
This discovery shows that physical activity may have a direct, positive effect on how the brain works.
In simple terms, when you exercise, your brain becomes better at using insulin, a hormone that not only controls blood sugar but also plays a role in memory and learning.
Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas. Its main job is to help move sugar from the blood into cells so that the body can use it for energy. In the brain, insulin also helps brain cells communicate and supports the processes that allow us to think, remember, and learn.
When the brain does not use insulin properly, it may contribute to problems with memory and could even lead to conditions like dementia. This is why understanding how to improve insulin action in the brain is so important.
In this study, researchers focused on tiny particles called extracellular vesicles. These are small packages released by brain cells that carry important proteins. One of these proteins, known as Akt, plays a key role in how cells respond to insulin.
In the past, these vesicles were thought to be nothing more than cell debris, but scientists have come to realize that they are important messengers that help cells share information. By studying these vesicles, the researchers hoped to learn more about the link between exercise and brain health.
The study involved 21 volunteers who were around 60 years old and had a condition called prediabetes. Prediabetes means that blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be called diabetes.
People with prediabetes are at risk of developing diabetes and other health problems because their bodies do not use insulin as well as they should. This study is important because it shows that even in people with early signs of insulin problems, exercise might help improve how the brain uses insulin.
Over a period of two weeks, the volunteers took part in 12 supervised exercise sessions. Each session lasted about 60 minutes and was of moderate to high intensity. Before and after exercising, the participants drank a glucose solution, which is a sweet drink that raises blood sugar levels.
The researchers then took blood samples to see how the number of extracellular vesicles carrying insulin-related proteins changed after exercise.
The results were clear. After each exercise session, the number of vesicles carrying proteins that help the brain use insulin increased, with the protein Akt showing the most notable rise.
This means that exercise not only helps muscles and other parts of the body use insulin, but it also boosts the brain’s ability to respond to insulin. When brain cells respond better to insulin, they work more efficiently, which may help improve memory and overall cognitive function.
It is also useful to understand that insulin in the brain has another important role—it helps maintain proper blood flow. Good blood flow is essential for brain cells to receive the nutrients and oxygen they need to work well.
When insulin action in the brain is strong, it helps keep these cells healthy and supports the connections between them. This process is important for memory formation and for the speed at which we can process information.
In reviewing these findings, it is clear that the study sheds new light on how exercise benefits the brain. By increasing the number of vesicles that carry insulin-sensitive proteins like Akt, exercise appears to enhance the brain’s capacity to use insulin. This improvement may help prevent or slow down the progression of dementia, including diseases like Alzheimer’s.
However, while the results are promising, the study involved a small group of participants and was carried out over a short period. More research is needed to understand exactly how exercise brings about these changes and to see if long-term exercise can lead to lasting improvements in brain function.
In summary, this study shows that exercise can boost the brain’s ability to use insulin by increasing the activity of key proteins in special cellular packages.
These findings support the idea that regular physical activity not only improves overall health but might also protect the brain from the effects of aging and conditions like dementia. The research points to a future where therapies could be developed to enhance brain insulin action, providing new ways to keep our minds sharp as we age.
The research findings can be found in Aging Cell.
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