Doing short, intense exercises every day allows you to enjoy mental performance longer and delays the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Information on this subject was published by The Journal of Physiology. Although the mechanism of action of intense exercise is not yet fully understood, according to researchers at the University of Otago in New Zealand, its effect on increasing BDNF levels may be related to glucose metabolism and the brain's switch from one main energy source to another to provide enough energy for the body. BDNF is a brain-derived neurotrophic factor that is involved in processes related to learning, memory and protects the brain from cognitive loss. The protein affects neuroplasticity, or the brain's ability to form new synaptic connections.
The increase in BDNF levels may also be the result of an increase in platelets, which store a lot of this protein. However, the researchers are confident that intense exercise increases the production of BDNF protein, which plays an important role in nervous system function. Short intense exercises, such as cycling, increased BDNF levels by almost 5 times compared to low-intensity exercise. Increased BDNF levels reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
