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Yes, we all know exercise is good for us, but a recent cleverly conducted study has also shown how it can reduce symptoms of depression and increase brain growth.
The study by Brüchle et al. from Ruhr-University Bochum illustrates once again how simple things can have large benefits on mental health and brain health. See my previous article on benefits of walking.
In this particularly study they enlisted 41 people with clinically diagnosed depression. They used transcranial magnetic stimulation to measure their brains before and after an exercise intervention with half of the participants. This exercise intervention was carefully designed to avoid competitive and negative elements of exercise and include positive social interactions— some people have a negative view of exercise through bad experiences or a lack of competitive drive.
The results?
- First off, those with depression showed lower plasticity i.e. changeability of their brains. This suggesting a vicious circle…
