Exercise is good for physical and mental health as it improves the brain’s functions. But the reason behind this was unknown. However, researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign have revealed the reason behind it. According to their research, when we exercise, our muscles release special substances that help our brain work better.
This study was led by Professor Hyunjoon Kong and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. In this study, researchers have revealed that the nerves that make our muscles move also tell them to release more of these special substances that boost our brains. Researchers mainly wanted to know how the nerves affect the brain through muscles as our muscles have numerous nerves. They focused on older people and those with nerve or muscle problems.
In this study, researchers focused on understanding how muscles communicate with the brain during exercise. When they collected and observed the data, they found that muscles release hormones and tiny packages known as extracellular vesicles that carry important molecules between cells. These molecules help nerves communicate better and improve the brain’s function.
Researchers also studied the role of the nerves that stimulate the muscles using two types of muscle tissue models, one with nerves and one without nerves. They noticed that muscles with nerves produced more molecules that improved the brain’s function as compared to those without nerves. They also stimulated the nerves with glutamate- a neurotransmitter and understood that the muscles with nerves released even more of these beneficial molecules such as irisin.
Irisin is one of the molecules linked with the positive effects of exercise. Researchers also found that muscles with nerves had released a greater variety of mRNA. These mRNAs play an important role in the development of the brain. This shows the importance of nerve connections to muscles.
As the results are positive, this will help healthcare professionals to find some new effective treatments to treat people who have lost nerves or muscle functions. Healthcare professionals should suggest people exercise as it improves the brain’s functions to keep them mentally and physically well.
Reference Link:
Kai-Yu Huang et al, Neuronal innervation regulates the secretion of neurotrophic myokines and exosomes from skeletal muscle, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2024). 
