Exercise Was Successfully Able to Restore Brain Insulin Responsiveness in Overweight and Obese Individuals Living a Sedentary Life

Jessica George ’24 When the brain is resistant to insulin, the body tends to gain weight and distribute fat unfavorably. Resistance to insulin is one of the main characteristics of disorders such as type 2 diabetes and obesity. Today, it is unknown whether it is possible to completely reverse insulin resistance in the brain. Researchers at the Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases of … Continue reading Exercise Was Successfully Able to Restore Brain Insulin Responsiveness in Overweight and Obese Individuals Living a Sedentary Life

Exercise it Out: Using Exercise as a Tool to Combat Burnout in Nursing Students

Thumyat Noe ’23 Nursing students participate in internships at the end of their education to increase efficiency of clinical practices. This transition from student-to work-life is often stressful, causing many nursing students to experience burnout, a psychosocial problem characterized by emotional exhaustion, loss of enthusiasm, and depersonalization. Constant stress and feelings of hopelessness can be detrimental to the well-being and academic success of nursing students; … Continue reading Exercise it Out: Using Exercise as a Tool to Combat Burnout in Nursing Students

Exercise and Longevity in Women

By Mariam Malik ‘22 Daily exercise has been proven to significantly reduce stress and increase happiness and longevity. It has been assumed that 10,000 steps per day were needed to feel these boosts in dopamine and energy, but a recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine provides experimental evidence that the recommended number of steps to feel the positive effects of walking is actually fewer … Continue reading Exercise and Longevity in Women

Reducing Exhaustion in Entrepreneurs Through Mindfulness Exercises

Raymond Cheung ‘22 Entrepreneurs play an essential role in developing innovations and redefining the way businesses operate. However, entrepreneurship is arduous and often causes entrepreneurs to work until they are exhausted to achieve their goals. Although it may not be possible to prevent exhaustion, mindfulness exercises can potentially mitigate the effect of exhaustion. Researchers at Oregon State University present promising findings of the effect of … Continue reading Reducing Exhaustion in Entrepreneurs Through Mindfulness Exercises

Augmented Reality Games and Physical Activity: Exploring the Effect of Pokémon Go

Raymond Cheung ‘22 When Pokemon GO was released in 2016, the world was captivated by the ability to capture Pokemon in the real world through augmented reality. An interesting consequence of the game’s popularity is that it promotes physical activity in its players. A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Tokyo found that the game positively impacted the physical activity in older … Continue reading Augmented Reality Games and Physical Activity: Exploring the Effect of Pokémon Go

Multivitamins show no cardiovascular health benefits

Nita Wong ‘21 Up to 30 percent of Americans take multivitamin and mineral supplements; in fact, the global nutritional supplement industry is projected to reach $278 billion within the next six years. A recent study conducted by the Department of Medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and published by the American Heart Association, however, found no link between consumption of such dietary … Continue reading Multivitamins show no cardiovascular health benefits

Treadmill Exercise Changes the Landscape of a Diseased Brain

By Matthew Lee ‘21 Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative diseases have debilitating effects on the elderly. AD is characterized by the buildup of proteins, subtype amyloid beta (Aβ), which form plaques and can contribute to Tau build up. However, there are multiple means by which to reduce the likelihood of developing AD. Several studies have confirmed the beneficial effects of exercise on mice with … Continue reading Treadmill Exercise Changes the Landscape of a Diseased Brain

Figure 1. New research suggests that the long-term effects of high intensity exercise extend to memory.

High Intensity Exercise Stimulates Memory

By Meenu Johnkutty ‘21 New research suggests that the long-term effects of high intensity exercise may prove to be more beneficial than previously thought. Many studies have demonstrated that aerobic exercise improves the structure and function of the hippocampus, the region of the brain responsible for learning and memory. Scientists posit that neurotrophic factors like insulin growth factor (IGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are … Continue reading High Intensity Exercise Stimulates Memory

Figure 1. Human brain is the most metabolically demanding organ in the body.

The Selfish Brain: A Trade-off Between Cognitive And Physical Performance in Humans

By Maryna Mullerman ’20 The brain metabolizes more glucose — a simple and widely accessible sugar — than any other organ in the human body. Daniel Longman and researchers from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom explored the trade-off involving the brain and muscles, or physical performance, in people. The study investigated how mental and physical activities are affected when they are performed … Continue reading The Selfish Brain: A Trade-off Between Cognitive And Physical Performance in Humans

Figure 1. Caffeine affects heart rate variability in the first five minutes of recovery after physical exercise.

Running on Caffeine

By Maryna Mullerman ’20 Caffeine is a stimulant often found in coffee, energy drinks, and medicine. Many researchers have analyzed its physiological effects, but caffeine’s impact on post-exercise recovery is not widely understood.  Doctor Luana Almeida Gonzaga and researchers from São Paulo State University in Brazil conducted a study focusing on cardiovascular parameters, such as heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), respiratory rate (RR), and … Continue reading Running on Caffeine