2023-12-13 19:03:57
If there’s something we can’t fight, it’s aging. Of course, it is possible to give yourself a little facelift thanks to the scalpel, but that is not enough. To stay in shape, science advises us to go up and down the stairs. She also suggests that we consume this food to keep our brain healthy, but not only…
Electric bike or classic bike: which one gives us more exercise? The answer in images :
The benefits of high-intensity cycling on the brain
To slow down the brain aging process, you should engage in six minutes of high-intensity cycling (HIIT: High Intensity Interval Training) on a regular basis. In any case, this is what a study published in the journal The Physiological Society and carried out by a team of researchers from the University of Otago in New Zealand reveals, reports GQ magazine. Experts investigated how non-pharmacological factors, such as exercise or fasting, could impact BDNF production. The latter designates a protein essential to the functioning of the brain. Researchers have demonstrated that a cycling session, albeit short but intense, has five times greater benefits on the brain than a prolonged cardio session with lower effort.
But then why choose cycling rather than another activity? You may not know it but this sport would be an ally for memory. A Dutch study from the University of Nijmegen demonstrated this by studying 72 people who had to assimilate 90 associations of places and images. These 72 participants were then separated into three groups of 24. The first had to pedal a bike immediately, the second four hours later, while the last had no physical activity to perform.
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Two days later, these people returned the associations again. Result: the best performers are those who waited four hours to pedal. Results confirmed by MRIs. Brain activity was shown to be greater in members of group 2. Cycling and memory therefore seem to be a winning combination to stimulate our brain and mental abilities. In addition, cycling would help strengthen the muscles throughout our body (and not just our brain). A study from King’s College London showed that people who cycled had less muscle deterioration than sedentary people as they aged. As a result, they were able to maintain their muscle mass and strength for longer.
If you’re not really into cycling, you can always do another high-intensity activity. HIIT has other benefits. A 2014 study found that people who favored HIIT over moderate-intensity sessions, like an hour of running, were more likely to enjoy their workouts and stay motivated over the long term.
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