Exercise in early life improves brain health, digestion

Exercising at an early age can alter microbes in the gut and lead to better brain health and digestion, says a study by the University of Colorado Boulder.

“Exercise affects many aspects of health, both metabolic and mental, and people are only now starting to look at the plasticity of these gut microbes,” said Monika Fleshner, a professor in CU-Boulder’s Department of Integrative Physiology and the senior author of the new study. “That is one of the novel aspects of this research.”

Microbes take up residence within human intestines shortly after birth and are vital to the development of the immune system and various neural functions.  These microbes can add as many as 5 million genes to a person’s overall genetic profile and thus have tremendous power to influence aspects of human physiology.

The study found that juvenile rats who voluntarily exercised every day developed a more beneficial microbial structure, including the expansion of probiotic bacterial species in their gut compared to both their sedentary counterparts and adult rats, even when the adult rats exercised as well.

The researchers have not, as of yet, pinpointed an exact age range when the gut microbe community is likeliest to change, but the preliminary findings indicate that earlier is better.

A robust, healthy community of gut microbes also appears to promote healthy brain function and provide anti-depressant effects, Fleshner said.  Previous research has shown that the human brain responds to microbial signals from the gut, though the exact communication methods are still under investigation.

“Future research on this microbial ecosystem will hone in on how these microbes influence brain function in a long-lasting way,” said Agnieszka Mika, a graduate researcher in CU-Boulder’s Department of Integrative Physiology and the lead author of the new study.

Category: Top Story, Wellness and Complementary Therapies