• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About Us
  • STEPS Virtual
  • FAQ
  • Links
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • 615.269.8844

STEPS Fitness

Nashville's Premier Personal Fitness Training Center

  • STEPS Virtual
  • Programs
    • STEPS Fitness Presents Events
    • DR. Irv’s Perfect Exercise Minute
    • Training Packages
    • Group Offerings
    • Corporate Wellness
    • Traveler’s Special
  • Personal Trainers
    • Dr. Irv Rubenstein
  • Testimonials
  • Fitness Blog
    • Dr Irv’s Fitness Blog
    • Exercise of the Month
  • Newsletters
    • Fit Happens
    • Real News Newsletter
  • Search

September 8, 2016 By Irv Rubenstein

If Exercise Helps the Brain, Not Exercising Hurts It, Maybe

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

1087415Many studies over the past few years have expounded on the value of exercise in terms of mental, cognitive and emotional health. From fending off depression, improving executive function, reducing your risk of dementia and maybe Alzheimer’s, maintaining cardio fitness – and even strength – has been shown effective, not just during the post-workout period but over time…as you age.

But it’s worth asking the opposite question – if exercise helps the brain, does stopping exercise hurt the brain?

Most studies looking at its benefits find increased white matter and neuron connections in long-term exercisers. Even short term studies find increases resulting from a 3 days/wk routine. But along comes a study out of the University of Maryland that found stopping does indeed diminish the  blood flow to important parts of our brains in older people who exercise regularly.

After a mere 10 days-  that is, 1.5 weeks – sedentariness may initiate unfavorable changes in the brains of middle age and older active people!

Use your body or Lose your brainUse Your Body or Lose Your Brain

Use It Or Lose It: Stopping Exercise Decreases Brain Blood Flow

 

 

To be fair, the study could not state that these changes were permanent or detrimental. But it does get your attention: use it or lose it happens above the neck not just below it.

Related Posts:

  • REAL-News--June-2024
    REAL News - June 2024
  • REAL-News --July-2022
    REAL News - July 2022
  • FIT-Happens - -Winter -2025
    FIT Happens - Winter 2025
  • Fit-Happens--Spring-2025
    REAL News - July 2023
  • REAL-News --February-2025
    REAL News - February 2025
  • REAL-News--February-2025
    REAL News - February 2025
  • REAL-News --May-2024
    REAL News - June 2023
  • REAL-News--December-20232
    REAL News - September 2023

Comments

comments

Filed Under: Fitness Blog Tagged With: Alzheimer's disease, cognitive function, depression, physically active, weight loss

sidebar

Blog Sidebar

FREE Consultation!

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Categories

  • Exercise of the Month
  • Fit Happens
  • Fitness Blog
  • General News
  • Newsletters
  • Real News
  • Trainers

Tags

achieve well-being aging Alzheimer's disease barefoot running body fat bone density burn off excess weight calories cardio cardiovascular childhood obesity covid diabetes diet dieting eating disorders Exercise exercise intensity field of health or exercise science fitness flexibility functional fitness health Heart Health higher risk of obesity lose weight low back pain mental health musculoskeletal improvements obesity osteoarthritis physical activity physically active protein reduce your risk of falling resistance training running Senior Training slows cognitive decline strength training Stretching training weight loss Weight loss vs Exercise gain weight management

Recent News

May 01

REAL News – May 2025

Apr 01

REAL News – April 2025

Mar 18

Fit Happens – Spring 2025

Mar 01

REAL News – March 2025

Feb 01

REAL News – February 2025

Reviews

Search Our Directory

Footer Widget Header

Affiliations

  • american-college-of-sports-medicine
  • american-council-on-exercise
  • biometrics
  • exercise-etc-inc
  • national-strength-and-conditioning-association
  • renewed-support

STEPS Fitness | 2424 21st Ave. S. Suite #100 | Nashville, TN 37212 | 615.269.8844 p

© 2025 Nashville's Premier Personal Fitness Training Center | Designed by Ponder Consulting ®

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok