Exercise Feeds Our Brains with BDNF
by Dan Edelman
Our brain is an amazingly complex organic computer that helps set humans apart from other animals . It is the command center for our nervous system , receiving sensory information , processing it , and issuing marching orders for our body . The part of the nervous system required to carry those messages is made up of billions and billions of nerve cells or neurons that communicate through an electrochemical process . That ’ s a lot of neurons .
When we consider the sprawling vastness of our nation ’ s highway system and the constant upkeep it needs to continue functioning , imagine the maintenance required for our nervous system infrastructure , which is many times larger , to remain healthy for the duration of our lives . One tool used for this is called brainderived neurotrophic factor or BDNF . BDNF is a protein known as a neurotrophin , and it is critical to brain health . It improves neuron functioning , protects against stress and cell death , and , most significantly , stimulates neuron growth .
So powerful is BDNF ’ s role in brain development that Dr . John J . Ratey , author of SPARK : The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain , famously referred to it as Miracle-Gro ® for the brain . All of this is good news for cognitive functioning , including memory and learning , which means BDNF plays an important role in our children ’ s academics . From this , it makes sense that we should look for ways to keep producing BDNF to feed our brains .
Well , Ratey and other researchers discovered something pretty cool : Exercise , and pretty much any kind of physical activity , stimulates the production of BDNF . This has huge implications for our kids . If BDNF builds the brain in a way that can improve academic performance , and exercise produces BDNF , shouldn ’ t we ensure that ample movement is provided to the kids during the school day ?
The Brand X Method™ sure thinks so and offers these ideas :
• Give kids short breaks throughout the day to break up class time . Fill these breaks with fun outbursts of movement .
• Let kids have real , old-school recess with time and space for free play and creative recharging .
• Look into standup desks for the classroom . Start here : http :// standupkids . org /.
• Restore physical education to its former glory and rightful place in the curriculum by making imbuing it with the kind of play and challenge that used to engage all kids . The Brand X Method™ has spent a dozen years developing a program devoted to making fitness fun for everyone . Learn more here : http :// thebrandxmethod . com /.
Here ’ s another thing to think about : sunlight , which our bodies convert to Vitamin D , may also increase BDNF levels . Getting our kids outside to play more could be doubling down on increasing their brain power .
Although it feels intuitively right to want our kids to be more active , scientific research is demonstrating that such an intuition is spot on . Given the increased attention paid to children ’ s academic performance these days , schools should continue to find ways to integrate physical activity of all kinds , from exercise to free play , so kids can take advantage of the BDNF dividend that such movement affords them .
Dan Edelman began his fitness journey in 1978 with his uncle ’ s cast-off weight set and Arnold as his role model . His reeducation began in 2007 when he discovered Brand X . With 20 years as a professional editor , Dan ensures the clarity of the communication , educational , and publication efforts of the Brand X Method™ . He assists in the logistics and marketing sides of the Brand X Method Teen Gauntlet and is a member of the Brand X Method Training Seminar staff . He holds certifications for the TBXM™ Online Basic Kids Certificate Program , TBXM™ Advanced Kids Course , and TBXM™ Youth Barbell Course , and is a USAW Sports Performance Coach Level 1 . As a trainer , his focus is on training teens and adults . He has taken a special interest in long-term athletic development and the place of the Brand X Method in the youth sports system as well as on school campuses .
Sources : 8 ways to increase BDNF levels ( brain-derived neurotrophic factor ). Mental Health Daily . Available at http :// mentalhealthdaily . com / 2015 / 03 / 30 / 8-ways-to-increasebdnf-levels-brain-derived-neurotrophic-factor /. Accessed October 18 , 2016 . Aschwanden C and New Scientist . Studies show the long-term , positive effects of fitness on cognitive abilities . Washington Post . December 9 , 2013 . Available at https :// www . washingtonpost . com / national / health-science / studies-show-the-longterm-positive-effects-of-fitness-on-cognitive-abilities / 2013 / 12 / 06 / b2a0bff4-5162- 11e3-9fe0-fd2ca728e67c _ story . html . Accessed October 18 , 2016 . Bass C . Miracle-Gro for the brain . From the Desk of Clarence Bass . Available at http :// www . cbass . com / Miracle-GroBrain . htm . Accessed October 18 , 2016 . Brain Facts : Neurotransmitters . Thriving Brain . Available at http :// thrivingbrain . com / brain _ facts / neurotransmitters . htm . Accessed October 18 , 2016 . Gabriel L . BDNF — Miracle-Gro for the Brain . Thought Medicine . Available at http :// thoughtmedicine . com / 2010 / 05 / bdnf-miracle-gro-for-the-brain /. Accessed October 18 , 2016 . Kotz D . Four ways to use exercise to boost your brain power . Boston Globe . March 11 , 2013 . Available at http :// www . johnratey . com / files / PressArticles / 2013 % 20Press % 20Articles / Four % 20ways % 20to % 20use % 20 exercise % 20to % 20boost % 20your % 20brain % 20power % 20- % 20Health % 20 _% 20 wellness % 20- % 20The % 20Boston % 20Globe . pdf . Accessed October 18 , 2016 . Lewis T . Human brain : Facts , functions & anatomy . Live Science . March 25 , 2016 . Available at http :// www . livescience . com / 29365-human-brain . html . Accessed October 18 , 2016 . Neuroscience for kids . Available at https :// faculty . washington . edu / chudler / cells . html . Accessed October 18 , 2016 . Ratey JJ . SPARK : The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain . NY : Little Brown , 2013 .
Parent Teacher News • September / October 2016 • 6