A new study illuminates the benefits of retaining muscle to help protect cognitive health, especially later in life.
Researchers at Monash University in Australia analyzed the relationship between muscle volume and brain structure, discovering that higher volumes of thigh muscle in midlife correlated with larger brain volumes. Alicia Lu, the author’s study, says the thigh was chosen as the proxy since it’s an effective indicator of whole-body muscle mass.
This is not the first time exercise has been linked to enhanced cognitive function.
Last month, The Dallas Express reported another study in the Annal of Behavioural Medicine, which showed that even small bouts of moderate exercise can offer short-term, acute cognitive benefits.
Wendy Suzuki, professor of neural science and psychology at New York University, says exercise can even result in permanent positive changes to the brain after years of consistent activity.
The latest study, however, sheds light on the connection between muscle mass and brain health, a link that was only recently discovered, says Lu. The reason for the linkage is unclear, but Lu says there are multiple theories as to why the connection might exist.
“One is that there may be shared lifestyle or biological risk factors for both low muscle mass and poor brain health – for example, someone who lives a sedentary lifestyle may be more likely to develop both low muscle mass and cognitive impairment down the track,” she says, per SCMP.
Alternatively, those with active and healthier lifestyles may possess more muscle and a reduced risk of cognitive issues.
Compounds released from skeletal muscle, known as myokines, have also been theorized as a potential reason for improved brain health.
“There are dozens of different myokines, many of which support brain health and function. In general, the more muscles we work and the harder we work them, the greater the quantity of myokines that get released,” said Dr. Tommy Wood, an assistant professor of pediatrics and neuroscience at the University of Washington.
Resistance training appears to have a unique impact compared to aerobic activity, like running. Resistance exercises, like squatting, seem to support white matter in the brain. Enhancing white matter helps cognitive function by facilitating the flow of information between brain areas.
Muscles also help the brain by managing blood sugar. Muscle mass acts as a buffer, improving blood sugar control and limiting the risk of developing disorders like type 2 diabetes.
Wood says effective resistance training requires just two sessions a week. Critically, he says, the exercises must be challenging. When the weights start to feel too light, it is a sign to increase the load.