Short Article
A study in Nature Medicine reports that the exercise-induced hormone release of irisin (and its precursor, FNDC5), has been shown, in some models to benefit the brain in respect to Alzhiemer's Disease (AD). These findings suggest a potential new avenue for therapeutic development.
Spiegelman, the Stanley J. Korsmeyer Professor of Cell Biology and Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and others have proposed that the irisin hormone serves as a link between exercise and its beneficial effects on health, including burning fat, strengthening bones, and protecting against neurodegenerative diseases reported in The Harvard Gazette in 2014 we now have new research to add to this.
So not only does exercise release the feel good hormones but it also helps build irisin level in the hippocampus, a region critical for learning and memory in the brain. Mychael V. Lourenco et al found that FNDC5/irisin levels are reduced in AD hippocampi and cerebrospinal fluid. The levels of the hormone were compared with age-matched controls.
These findings now suggest that a novel therapy that may help prevent or treat dementia in humans using pharmaceutical compounds is the next step needed. Whilst most people may be able to incorperate an exercise regime in to their lives there are those who are unable to such as those with dementia, arthritis and other age related diseases.
So for those of you who can, should, you will not only feel good but you will also be adding those vital compounds to your brain!
Link to paper; https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-018-0275-4