Researchers have a new explanation for why exercise reduces depression. A study published in July suggests that exercises may exert anti-depressive effects by reducing brain inflammation and cultivating motivation. Study lead author Emily Hird, who has a doctorate in cognitive neuroscience and is a research fellow at University College London (UCL), said the positive effect of aerobic exercise has been demonstrated through randomized trials.
Still, the specific biological and psychological processes are not well understood. “Several studies indicate that dopamine transmission is enhanced by physical activity, in particular aerobic exercise, indicating this as a potentially useful alternative method to boost dopamine and increase motivation in depression,” they wrote. The researchers said in the study that exercise is well-suited to early intervention for depression because of its low cost.
It may also have beneficial effects on physical health conditions potentially linked to depression, such as obesity. Exercise also improves self-esteem and reduces stress. Dr.
Karl Benzio, a psychiatrist and medical director of a Florida residential treatment center who was not involved in the study, said exercise can be a key component of the treatment plan for mild and some moderate depression. Benzio also affirmed that exercise releases dopamine and adrenaline, chemicals that provide uplifting feelings. Exercise dramatically improves blood circulation to the brain, supplying it with oxygen and vital nutrients.
It also carries away waste products, detoxifying the brain. “Exercise also gets us away from the stressors and removes us to a place where we can be in the present and away from everything that is weighing on us,” he said. “Even getting out and walking for 30 minutes can help.
” The UCL researchers expressed a need for large, randomized controlled trials to unravel the physiological explanations for exercise’s antidepressant effect. “We need to address all three spheres: spirit, mind, and body,” Benzio said. “When you address the physical through exercise, it starts to give some motivation, to help stimulate and heal the brain, so the patient can think more clearly.
“Depression is very complicated, and there are a lot of reasons a person is depressed. If it’s a significant depression, then exercise is not going to be the only remedial aspect,” he said in an interview with The Epoch Times. “With the psychiatric reasons for depression, I believe there are biological elements.
The way exercise is beneficial is through a release of endorphins, releasing those chemicals that give us a sense of euphoria, that runner’s high that people get.”.
