We all know that exercise is wonderful for the brain. The physical activity of oxygen stimulates circulation, which is beneficial for this organ. Increases and intensifies intellectual functions and perception. But that’s not all: it also inhibits the production of cortisol, stress hormone, and balances emotions.
Another advantage that physical activity offers to the brain is that of providing a state of well-being and happiness, since at some point exercise stimulates serotonin production, this chemical change allows to experience great emotional comfort.
“Dancing is like dreaming about your feet. ” -Consistency-
On the subject was an interesting study in the United States, researchers wanted to analyze the benefits of walking, dancing and stretching, and wondered which of these three activities had the most positive effects. To find out, they did an experiment with a group of volunteers Then we say what was done and what the conclusions were.
The first step was to form a group of 174 volunteers, all were over 60 years old and some over 70, we know that at this age there is a degeneration of the white substance in the brain, this has different effects, such as memory difficulties and impaired cognitive functions.
All the volunteers were sedentary people. Most of them did not perform any physical activity, those that exercised it only sporadically and for very short periods of time, was an ideal group to check for changes caused by physical activity in the brain.
At first they all underwent an aerobic test, tests were also performed to assess their cognitive abilities and how quickly they were able to process the data provided in the lab, tests that were the basis for establishing the state they were in at the beginning. experiment.
The group of volunteers was divided into three subgroups, no model was followed and the groups were randomly formed, the first initiated a walking program. Members should walk in quick stages for one hour three times a week.
The second subgroup was stretched. They did muscle-stretching exercises, also three times a week, as well as supervised exercises to balance other minor skills.
The third group had to go to a dance studio three times a week, not only had to dance, but learn a choreography whose complexity increased, took on a not-so-simple rhythm: country.
The experience was maintained for six consecutive months for all three groups, invariably. During this period, participants were given several CT scans and MRIs to see what changes had occurred in the brain. Some results were in line with expectations, but others really were. Surprising.
Initially, the most remarkable thing is that the white substance in the brain was more degraded in all those who had led a more sedentary life at the beginning of the experiment; secondly, the most visible thing was an improvement in all participants. cognitive and memory tests that were applied at the end of the experiment.
The great surprise came when the results of the third group were observed, that is, the one that had been dedicated to doing a complex dance choreography, all the indices were higher than the others, the experts pointed out that this was because it was a physical activity accompanied by mental, social and playful activity, so it was more integral. In fact, in many participants an increase in the density of white matter was observed in the brain.
Agnieszka Burzynska, one of the research leaders, said a similar study had already been conducted in 2014, in which at the time it was possible to show that the longer a person sits, the more his brain deteriorates, even if he exercised. Therefore, the great finding is that physical inactivity negatively affects the brain, in addition, physical activity is reactive and much more effective than other types of exercise.