Exercise benefits brain via blood particles
Exercise's brain benefits may be transferable via blood particles, new study in mice shows.
Why it matters
- Exercise enhances cognitive functions by promoting new neuron growth in the hippocampus.
- Understanding how exercise benefits the brain could lead to new therapies for cognitive decline and neurological conditions.
By the numbers
- Mice receiving vesicles from exercising mice showed a 50% increase in new neuron growth in the hippocampus.
- About 89% of the new cells became neurons, while 6% became astrocytes.
The big picture
- The study suggests that extracellular vesicles from exercised mice can promote neurogenesis in sedentary mice.
- This finding points to potential therapeutic applications for cognitive health.
What they're saying
- Researchers highlight that exercise-induced vesicles can significantly increase neurogenesis.
- There's excitement about potential future therapies based on these findings.
Caveats
- The exact mechanism of how these vesicles work is still unknown.
- The study was conducted in mice, and human applications are still speculative.
- The vesicles don't fully replicate the effects of exercise.
What’s next
- Further research is needed to identify the specific molecular cargo within the vesicles responsible for neurogenesis.
- Understanding how these vesicles interact with the brain and other organs is crucial.