Weekly blog

Feb 27

It seems unlikely that when Chuck Hillman sat in the mall and experienced a moment of curiosity watching his son play, he knew it would kickstart a major new finding - that physical activity significantly improved brain activity (especially in children). It seems even less likely that he knew the results would become one of the internet's most loved images, especially for those of us who promote a healthy lifestyle as a way to thrive. As he described it here in 2021, the moment pulled him in a direction away from his primary focus, the aging brain, and toward proving the strong cognitive benefit gained from moving our bodies. His team has since shown that whether we exercise habitually or perform a single bout and whether we choose moderate intensity (enough to be only slightly out of breath) or higher intensity (enough to break a sweat), the brain does better when we MOVE.

While we don't know exactly why movement is such a powerful brain stimulator, it might be as simple as increased blood flow. If this were the case, anything that helps drive blood upward against gravity could be beneficial. Muscle activation, especially of the large lower-body muscles, would certainly fit the bill. Certain exercise types (running, jumping, etc) might even be better than others (cycling, swimming) due to the higher upward pressures generated with greater impact. Interestingly, in 2018, a team from New Mexico demonstrated this phenomenon when they compared blood flow to the brain following cycling, walking, and running in a small group. All activities were helpful, but running produced the greatest improvement. Since then, a growing number of studies linking movement and brain health have emerged. These two review articles from 2025 (here and here) provide a good summary of what the last few decades of science have produced. 

Now, on the other end of the spectrum, a team from the University of Southern California studying blood flow patterns in older adults with and without cognitive decline, found that those whose blood flow most closely matched the patterns of healthy adults had the least likelihood for negative changes and disease markers, such as those seen in Alzheimer's disease. The researchers believe they may have unlocked an inexpensive early indicator that can help in the realm of prevention and management. Similarly, further North in San Francisco, a different team showed in a mouse study that certain proteins, typically released from the liver as a result of exercise, helped repair the structures that protect the brain (blood-brain barrier) from inflammation-related wear. The approach even reversed some signs of cognitive decline.

Although the research is certainly not simple, the core idea is: when we get moving, we not only push blood around the system but upward as well...and protect both body and brain in the process.

Have a great weekend,

Mike E.