Boost Your Brain with Lactate: The Link Between Exercise & BDNF
Moving your body isn’t just good for your muscles – it’s a powerful boost for your brain! Sports enthusiasts have long known the feeling, and now science is revealing how exercise benefits cognitive health.
The key lies in a protein called Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), frequently enough called the “miracle-grow” for the brain. Produced in organs like the liver, brain, muscles, and fat tissue, BDNF promotes the growth, survival, and maintenance of nerve cells.
Recent research, published in frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, suggests a surprising starting point for this process: lactate. This substance is created when your body converts carbohydrates into energy, notably during intense physical activity when oxygen is limited.
Researchers found that directly administering lactate via infusion into the bloodstream mimics the effects of strenuous exercise, considerably increasing BDNF levels.”We show for the first time that such an administration leads to lactate levels typical of above-average to severe exertion, ultimately increasing BDNF,” explains Dr. Marcus mberg of the Swedish School for Sports and Health Sciences.
The Study: Twelve healthy volunteers received either a lactate infusion or a saline solution (control), with a crossover design to account for individual variation. Muscle biopsies and blood samples were taken before, during, and after the infusions. Results showed a rapid increase in Pro-BDNF (a precursor to BDNF) in the blood within 15 minutes of stopping the lactate infusion, while muscle levels remained unchanged.
What does this mean? The study suggests that lactate can trigger some of the brain-boosting benefits of exercise without the full physical exertion.
Though, don’t ditch your workout just yet! Dr.Mberg emphasizes that the intensity of training is crucial for optimal brain health. “Training intensively a few times a week, exposing the brain to high lactate levels, is recommended for neurologically healthy aging.”
Looking Ahead: This research opens exciting possibilities for targeted exercise prescriptions, particularly for individuals with compromised brain health. Further investigation is needed to fully understand how lactate influences BDNF metabolism, possibly leading to new medical interventions. Lactate’s hormone-like effects suggest a promising avenue for future brain health therapies.
In short: Exercise, and the lactate it produces, is a powerful tool for a healthier, sharper brain.