Would six minutes of vigorous activity a day be enough to protect once morest neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s? This is suggested by a new study published on January 11, 2023 in The Journal of Physiology. According to researchers from the University of Otago in New Zealand, short bursts of intense activity might prolong the lifespan of a healthy brain and thus delay cognitive decline.
But how is this possible? Researchers set out to find the best way to stimulate the production of a certain protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The latter is known to be essential for brain formation, learning and memory. It also promotes the brain’s ability to form new connections and is currently being explored as a potential therapy for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
While pharmaceutical interventions failed to increase the amount of BDNF produced by the human body, researchers recruited 12 people – six men and six women between the ages of 18 and 56 – and tried four different ways to boost this protein. :
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A 20-hour fast;
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A 90-minute session of low-intensity cycling;
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A six-minute vigorous exercise session consisting of 40 seconds of cycling and 20 seconds of rest;
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A combination of fasting
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