We all know that exercise is good for our bodies, but new research from the University of Missouri shows that it may be just as important for keeping our brains healthy.
A study led by researchers Taylor Kelty and R. Scott Rector suggests that regular physical activity could protect the brain, even when one of its key energy sources is missing. Their findings were published in The Journal of Physiology.
Normally, when the body runs low on sugar (glucose), the liver steps in and produces ketones.
These molecules act as an alternative fuel to keep the brain working properly. Ketones help support memory, learning, and overall brain function.
But the researchers wanted to know: What happens if the liver can’t make enough ketones? Could exercise still help the brain stay sharp?
To find out, the research team studied what happens when ketone production is limited. As they expected, when the liver couldn’t produce enough ketones, participants experienced noticeable problems with memory and brain function.
However, something surprising happened. Even without normal ketone production, exercise still managed to improve cognitive health.
Kelty explained that they thought if ketones were missing, exercise wouldn’t be able to help much. But the results showed otherwise. Exercise seemed so powerful that it could bypass the lack of ketones and still offer strong benefits to the brain. It suggested that there are other mechanisms at work that allow exercise to protect memory and brain function.
Rector, who also serves as director of the Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health building and a professor in the School of Medicine, said the findings show how complex and amazing the effects of exercise can be. Even when one important system is missing, exercise activates other pathways that continue to support the brain.
This discovery is especially important for people with liver conditions that prevent the body from making ketones properly. Recent studies in the growing field of liver-brain research have shown that people with severe liver problems are more likely to develop dementia. If the liver’s ability to produce ketones is damaged, it could be one reason why cognitive decline occurs.
Kelty said the team’s work could raise awareness about the importance of both liver health and regular exercise for protecting the brain. He believes that understanding how ketones and exercise interact will help find new ways to prevent cognitive problems like dementia.
Both Kelty and Rector are excited about what lies ahead. With the support from the University of Missouri’s NextGen Precision Health initiative, they hope to keep exploring how exercise influences brain health. They believe that the more they uncover, the closer they will get to finding strategies to help people stay mentally sharp as they age.
In a future where the number of Americans diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease is expected to more than double by 2060, the idea that something as simple as regular exercise could help protect memory and thinking skills is very hopeful.
This study adds more evidence that keeping the body active isn’t just good for muscles and the heart—it may also be one of the best things we can do for our brains.
If you care about brain health, please read studies about how the Mediterranean diet could protect your brain health, and Omega-3 fats and carotenoid supplements could improve memory.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about antioxidants that could help reduce dementia risk, and higher magnesium intake could help benefit brain health.
The research findings can be found in The Journal of Physiology.
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