“However, studies suggest that higher levels of exercise and aerobic fitness can lead to increased volume (or size) of the hippocampus (a brain structure which has a role in learning and memory) and may increase the thickness of the cerebral cortex (which is involved in a number of brain functions).” It’s difficult to study how molecules interact in the brain and “unravel the mechanisms behind exercise,” Wooliscroft said. Low levels of serotonin are strongly associated with depression and anxiety. It is also related to impulse control and self-esteem. Our “gut feelings” may be driven by serotonin activity in our gastrointestinal tract and brain. As a neurotransmitter it regulates your mood, contributes to sleep quality and promotes digestion. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter and hormone. High levels of norepinephrine are associated with high blood pressure and a higher risk of heart, blood vessel and kidney damage. Low levels of norepinephrine are associated with anxiety, depression, ADHD, memory and sleep problems. It is also affects your mood, memory, sleep cycle and attention. Norepinephrine is a neurotransmitter and hormone connected to our “fight-or-flight” response that helps maintain blood pressure and alertness when you’re under stress. When there is too much dopamine activity in some regions of the brain and too little in others, that’s called “dopamine dysregulation.” Schizophrenia is an example of this. High levels of dopamine, on the other hand, are associated with addiction, mania and obesity. Low levels of dopamine are associated with many diseases including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and perhaps most notably in Parkinson’s disease where “weakened neurons produce lower levels of dopamine.” This causes the slowed movement disorder indicative of Parkinson’s. It’s plays a role in memory, attention, mood, learning, behavior and cognition. The strength and efficiency of these connections are fundamental to memory, learning, our thinking and our mood.ĭopamine is a neurotransmitter our brains produce when we do something pleasurable, making it a part of our “reward system” that motivates us to do activities. Our brain contains an estimated 100 billion brain cells, known as neurons, that send messages to each other, along 100 trillion lines of communication. Why does exercise, especially aerobic activity that increases our heart rate, immediately reduce levels of depression, anxiety and stress? Why does it improve memory and slow the effects of mental decline as we age?Īlthough we know the positive health outcomes from physical activity, we are still learning about the underlying biological processes that lead to them. This is especially true during a pandemic when we may have developed or increased health disorders, such as depression and anxiety. For these reasons, an active lifestyle is good for our physical health.Īn active lifestyle is also incredibly good for our mental health. When we exercise, dance, play with our kids, ride a bike, shoot hoops, walk to work or any other activity that makes our hearts beat faster, our lungs take in more oxygen and our muscles get stronger. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many of us to be less physically active over the past two years, and that can affect our mental health.
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