Mon 3 Dec 2007
I was checking out an article today that was once again touting the positive effect of exercise on depression.
Apparently, we’ve known that it DOES have a positive effect, but we just haven’t known exactly why.
From the article:
The researchers found that mice that had a week’s worth of workouts on a running wheel showed altered activity in a total of 33 genes, the majority of which had never been identified before.
In particular, exercise enhanced activity in the gene for a nerve growth factor known as VGF. Nerve growth factors are small proteins important in the development and maintenance of nerve cells.
Moreover, when the researchers infused a synthetic version of VGF into the brains of the mice, it produced a “robust antidepressant effect” in standardized tests of animals placed in stressful situations.
“The major finding is that we have identified a key factor that underlies the antidepressant effects of exercise — information that could be used for the development of novel therapeutic agents,” said senior researcher Dr. Ronald S. Duman of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.
Exercise “clearly has effects on the brain,” he told Reuters Health, and they are both direct and indirect. It’s possible, he explained, that the current findings reflect a direct effect of exercise on nerve cells in the hippocampus, or more general changes in the brain, like better blood flow or increased hormonal activity.
It seems like science has been doing different experiments on this phenomenon for years - with virtually no evidence in the reverse.
I don’t know if I personally care what mechanism it is, I just like the fact that exercise makes me feel good.
So, if you’ve been down in the dumps or have the Monday moo moos, go get yourself some vigorous exercise in. It’s a proven formula that WORKS.
More great info tomorrow including a great update geared for the men out there.
October 15th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Interesting articles here. I will absolutely visit again!
As a panic attack sufferer for 20 years, I find your topic very interesting. In my experience you need to realize that you have this problem, and be open about it. It helped me.
April 28th, 2010 at 2:07 pm
I also suffer from panic attacks and i can manage it by deep and slow breathing. i also practice meditation.. ‘
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