Exercise and Improved Brain Function

Hi and welcome to this episode of BFR Radio. 

To kickstart this and the next few episodes, we are going to venture beyond the well-trodden paths of muscle strength and hypertrophy to explore the lesser-known benefits of Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) on cognitive function. In the upcoming episodes, we look at  the research that unveils the promising role of BFR in enhancing cognitive abilities, a topic of immense significance, especially for the aging population grappling with cognitive issues.

In our kickstart episode, we dissect the seminal paper "Exercise and Cognitive Function" by Paul Loprinzi, published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine. This review lays the foundational knowledge for our series and looks at how exercise meets cognition. 

To understand the mechanisms as to how BFR training can help with cognitive function, there are a few key markers that illustrate how this works. Some of these markers include proteins like BDNF that play a pivotal role in fostering neuron growth and enhancing cognitive abilities and SNPs and their influence on cognitive function.

Although this primarily covers foundational knowledge, the last study we cover is a BFR training study and highlights at the enhanced effectiveness of resistance training with BFR on cognitive performance. 

Another concept, I’m keen to explore is a segment called, “What would you do.” For select episodes I’ll pose a scenario-based question. Let me know what you think of this one. 

Scenario: You're a college student who has a big exam coming up. You've been studying for weeks, but you're feeling a bit nervous about how well you'll do on the exam. You've heard that exercise can help improve cognitive function, but you're not sure what type of exercise or how long you should exercise for.

 

What would you do?

As promised, here is the answer: First of all, it's important to remember that exercise can have a positive impact on cognitive function. Studies have shown that even a short bout of exercise, like a 20-minute brisk walk, can improve executive function. So, if you're feeling nervous about your exam, taking a break to go for a walk or do some other type of exercise could be a good idea. In terms of what type of exercise to do, it's important to choose something that you enjoy and that gets your heart rate up. Running, cycling, or playing a sport are all good options. And if you're short on time, even a quick 10-minute workout can be beneficial. So, to answer the question, if you're feeling nervous about an upcoming exam, taking a break to do some exercise could be a good idea. Choose an activity that you enjoy and that gets your heart rate up, and even a short bout of exercise can help improve your cognitive function.

 

Hope you enjoy this episode. 

Chris

 

Article Resource: McMorris, T., Tomporowski, P., & Audiffren, M. (Eds.). (2009). Exercise and cognitive function. John Wiley & Sons.