In a groundbreaking discovery, researchers have found that physical exercise directly stimulates the brain’s insulin response system, potentially paving the way for new approaches to preventing dementia.
A team at Rutgers University-New Brunswick has revealed that engaging in moderate to high-intensity exercise activates specialized brain cells to release proteins essential for insulin sensitivity, which is crucial for the effective use of blood sugar in the body. This could explain why regular physical activity helps to preserve cognitive function as we age.
“We believe that this research is significant because it indicates that exercise may enhance cognition and memory by improving the brain’s response to insulin,” explained Steven Malin, associate professor in Rutgers’ Department of Kinesiology and Health and the lead author of the study.
The study focused on neuronal extracellular vesicles, which are small structures within cells that transport important proteins between brain cells. These vesicles, once considered insignificant “cellular debris,” have now been recognized as important players in cellular communication over the past decade and a half.
In a trial lasting two weeks, 21 participants with prediabetes, averaging 60 years old, completed twelve supervised hour-long exercise sessions. Blood samples taken before and after the program revealed an increase in the levels of vesicles carrying insulin-sensitive proteins, especially one known as Akt.
“This is the first time we have shown that exercise affects insulin signaling through neuronal extracellular vesicles in conjunction with improvements in blood sugar levels,” Malin stated.
Insulin is not only crucial for preventing diabetes but also plays a vital role in memory formation, cognitive function, and communication between brain cells. When brain tissue becomes resistant to insulin, it can result in cognitive impairment similar to that seen in Alzheimer’s disease.
Malin explained this phenomenon by comparing it to a game of telephone with a friend, where the message gets lost when the brain becomes insulin resistant.
Previous research has indicated that high blood sugar levels can negatively impact learning and memory, but the exact mechanisms linking exercise to enhanced brain function have remained unclear until now. This study provides solid evidence of how physical activity may help maintain cognitive health.
The research team, which included scientists from the National Institute of Health’s National Institute on Aging, is currently exploring whether even a single exercise session can improve the brain’s response to insulin. They are studying brain blood flow and tracking these cellular messengers in older adults with obesity.
Published in the journal Aging Cell, these findings suggest that targeting the brain’s insulin response system could lead to new strategies for preventing cognitive decline. For the millions of Americans with prediabetes facing an elevated risk of dementia, this research offers hope that regular exercise could safeguard their brain health.
Other contributors to the study included Michal Beeri, director of the Herbert and Jacqueline Krieger Klein Alzheimer’s Research Center at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and Daniel Battillo, a doctoral candidate in kinesiology. The National Institute on Aging’s team included Dimitrios Kapogiannis, Maja Mustapic, and Francheska Delgado-Peraza.
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