Remix.run Logo
MRI scans show exercise can make the brain look younger(sciencedaily.com)
61 points by amichail 4 hours ago | 15 comments
zmmmmm an hour ago | parent | next [-]

> brains that looked nearly a year younger

Seems like a pretty small effect - if I'm 58 and I have the brain of a 57 year old, and to achieve that I did an entire year of exercise (as was done in this study) ... you'd have to evaluate it against many other things to decide if that was really the easiest way to achieve that result.

I'm always suspicious of small effect sizes even when they are statistically significant. It just seems like so many confounders could bring about the effect. Here I'd wonder if just the mental challenge of achieving that sustained exercise over a whole year was responsible, since generally speaking, any mental challenge you undertake on a regular bases improves overall cognition.

They try to argue their way around this:

> "Even though the difference is less than a year, prior studies suggest that each additional 'year' of brain age is associated with meaningful differences in later-life health,"

But it just begs the question, if you think that then go measure those things with your study.

Of course I'm not in any way arguing against exercise. Adding at least a baseline level of exercise into your lifestyle is the most impactful health intervention anybody can do after age 40 I believe.

vonnik 14 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

See Dr Wendy Suzuki’s work:

https://www.wendysuzuki.com/exercise-research

strontium_90 39 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Original study: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11888500/

slwvx 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Can exercise make the face look younger? Or the body? Is exercise the best makeup? ;-)

piker an hour ago | parent | next [-]

Running makes you look older, unfortunately.

lostlogin 39 minutes ago | parent [-]

Cycling too.

The standard being 20kgs under weight, skin baked like old leather, and a previously broken collar bone.

But, nothing beats it.

MattGaiser an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

There seems to be abundant evidence that exercise is often the best solution for any number of things.

The problem is that doing it sucks.

BLKNSLVR 4 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

> The problem is that doing it sucks

I really dislike running for running's sake. But I love inline skating. Did a 20km route yesterday, did 43km a fortnight ago (which was admittedly too far for where my stamina is at). One of the things about skating (and this would also be true for cycling) is the different perspective it provides if you normally get around your local area in a car. You get to see the same places from radically different angles, depending on what paths are suitable to the mode of transport). Just going slower on or next to the road you get to see different things, but footpaths and other tracks are often (possibly not the right terminology, but) 'off the beaten track'. In inner suburban Melbourne (whilst holidaying there) I chanced upon a relatively unpopulated footpath alongside a river / drain that took me 15km into the city, and it was (in parts) both peaceful and beautiful, despite really not being that far away from main roads / highways / freeways.

A lot of people like cycling, can be done individually or in any sized group.

Tennis is mostly individual (although an opponent is required), but I play in a team and enjoy the combination.

Football, soccer, rugby can be physically brutal, but are team sports that have a (forced) social aspect if that's an unmet need. Volleyball is a bit less intense. Table tennis. Lots of options for sports.

Find a local park that has a basketball ring and just shoot hoops with yourself regularly. It at least gets you out of a chair and moving both arms and legs.

If you don't (think you) like any of those things, then you gotta do the hard yards to find that one rare thing you do like. It could just be something that you can find an appropriate level of progression that gives you 'that feeling'. I think that's what got me into skating late in life - I was terrible at it as a kid, but kinda forced into giving it another go as an adult, and within a couple of hours I was already better at it than in my childhood. It was a sense of accomplishment achieved in a relatively short term (= addicted? maybe).

Find your healthy addiction.

conception an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Doing boring rote movements sucks. There are lots of fun ways to exercise.

lostlogin 36 minutes ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Find a better way of exercising.

There is something out there that suits, surely. Sometimes it’s just a step removed.

oatmeal1 an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Exercise doesn't suck, land use policies generally just don't prioritize good places for the fun kinds of exercise.

JumpCrisscross 38 minutes ago | parent [-]

Who does land use right?

SecretDreams 32 minutes ago | parent | prev [-]

Play soccer twice a week. It's high intensity cardio, normally 60-90 mins tops. Sometimes beers after. And actually fun. Even in a coed league or an adult (min age) league. It's a great time. Bonus points - you'll possibly look more athletic if you keep at it long enough and don't over indulge in those beers!

RickJWagner 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

That’s awesome!

The benefits of exercise against aging, mental illness, etc are numerous and well documented. Everybody should do it.

jvfjllkttg an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

Less wise perhaps.