Ask A Scientist© Zoology Archive

name       Tomokazu
status     student
age        17

Question - I see on the web various arguments on how
exercise affects the brain. Some say that it helps increase mental
astuteness by stimulating growth in the hippocampus. In other places,
though, I hear arguments saying exercise increases blood pressure and can
cause minor  bleeding in the brain, followed by negative effects on
memory. Is there a definitive study on this issue? Is it just a matter of how
hard one strains themselves in exercise? (i.e. 3 hours slowly is
better than 1 hour really intense) Or is one of the arguments wrong?

I think all of what you state has an element of truth. The problem is that
when we look at any part of the body apart from the whole we are probably
not going to understand the true picture. In people with arteriosclerosis
the increase in BP following exercise can increase the risk of cerebral
embolism etc but the overall beneficial effects of exercise on the entire
body including the brain are hard to underestimate. To find the proper
stress of exercise is appropriate to you is trickier and depends on your age
shape and overall health.

PF
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