MADRID 4 May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
A new study by the University of Missouri (USA) suggests that exercise plays a crucial role in maintaining mental acuity, even when one of the main energy sources in the brain is not available.
The study, led by Missouri researchers, Taylor Kelty and R. Scott Rector, offers a new perspective of brain health and suggests that exercise could play a more important role than what was thought about the prevention of cognitive deterioration.
When the body runs out of its usual fuel, glucose, the liver produces ketones, an alternative energy source that helps the brain. These molecules favor cognitive memory, learning and general health of the brain.
In the study, the researchers analyzed what happens when the production of ketones is limited in the liver. As expected, the result was a notable deterioration of brain function and memory. But something extraordinary happened: the exercise managed to reverse part of cognitive impairment, even with the production of altered ketones.
“Upon entering the study, we think that with less ketones and the cognitive alterations that this causes, the exercise might not be able to overcome that alteration. But it seems that the exercise is so powerful that there are other mechanisms in progress in the brain that allow to overcome those deterioration and continue receiving the benefits of the exercise,” Kelty said.
“This study highlights how the exercise benefits the organism in multiple ways, even when we do not fully understand all the molecular mechanisms involved. I even even when we eliminate a single route, the exercise is doing so many other things that can help mitigate those deficiencies,” Kelty explains.
A promising discovery for people with liver problems
The findings are especially promising for people with liver conditions that prevent the body from producing ketones. Kelty has pointed out that the emerging field of liver-cerebro research is beginning to show that individuals with severe liver dysfunction have a greater risk of developing dementia.
“If the production of ketones in the liver is altered, it could be a potential cause of cognitive impairment and, ultimately, of disorders such as dementia,” he said.
For the researcher, the ideal would be for this research to help raise awareness about the importance of the production of ketones in brain health and the impact that exercise can have on mental acuity.
“We are still discovering many things, and with all the last generation resources we have within our reach, we can do much more,” he said.
Related news :