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Paired with healthy nutrition, resistance training is not only an effective strategy to achieve aesthetic goals, lose weight, remain youthful, but it is also immensely beneficial for our brain health. When we exercise, our brain expresses Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) which provides cognitive enhancement benefits. BDNF is a member of the neurotrophic family of proteins, which helps to protect our brain cells, form new brain cells, and promotes plasticity. In addition, we are more receptive to learning and the input of information because BDNF improves formation, retention and recall of memory.
In the fitness and health industry, BDNF is commonly referred to as Miracle-Gro for the brain because through exercise, the expression of BDNF causes cell growth and proliferation of cells. Specifically, the link between resistance training and improvement of cognition is evident by the increased expression of BDNF after training specifically in the hippocampus. As we age, one of the first things that starts to deteriorate in our cognitive function is our memory. However, by exercising we effectively increase BDNF which can reduce atrophy of our hippocampus to improve our learning and memory capacities, synaptic plasticity and even reduce depression.
In order to maintain our brain health, it is vital to emphasize weight training. Over time with consistent exercise, we can increase the benefits of BDNF because progressive resistance training augments this response.
