A Simple Way to Boost Your Brain

Want a bigger brain?

A new study out of Washington University School of Medicine found that more physical activity correlated with larger brain size in healthy adults 🧠

This was based on MRI brain scans of 10,125 men and women (average age 53). The more days they exercised, the larger their brains were in key areas.

Most of the study participants exercised 4 days per week, but the researchers said that even small amounts of exercise (like walking 4000 steps per day) were beneficial.

We don’t always see the results of our efforts immediately, but taking care of our health will pay off in the long run 👟

Reference

Raji CA, Meysami S, Hashemi S, et al. Exercise-Related Physical Activity Relates to Brain Volumes in 10,125 Individuals. J Alzheimers Dis. Published online December 7, 2023. [link]

New Coffee Study & How it Affects the Brain

📚Research Alert!

Sure, the caffeine in coffee helps us feel more alert and focused.

But a new study shows there’s more to coffee’s brain-boosting effects than just caffeine.

In the study, healthy adults were given either coffee or caffeinated water, and researchers measured their brain activity with functional MRI scans.

Both groups showed changes in brain activity related to being more ready to engage in tasks. But coffee also boosted activity in areas of the brain related to working memory, cognitive control, and goal-directed behavior.

☕ Basically, the coffee made people even more ready to be attentive and responsive than caffeine alone.

This is not so different from what we commonly see in studies on whole food or herbs 👉👉👉 The whole is more than the sum of its parts.

Are you a coffee fan? Comment Yes or No! ⬇️

Reference

Picó-Pérez M, Magalhães R, Esteves M, et al. Coffee consumption decreases the connectivity of the posterior Default Mode Network (DMN) at rest. Front Behav Neurosci. 2023;17:1176382. [link]