A study using mice and simulations found that movements in abdominal muscles can ripple up to the brain. It shows that the brain and body are connected, and movement is essential for keeping your brain and body physically healthy.
“Our research explains how just moving around might serve as an important physiological mechanism promoting brain health,” said Penn State neuroscientist Patrick Drew. “In this study, we found that when the abdominal muscles contract, they push blood from the abdomen into the spinal cord, just like in a hydraulic system, applying pressure to the brain and making it move.”
As mice are mammals, their bodies are quite like humans and can shed light on the human body. But the researchers put windows into the skulls of living mice to see what was happening in their brains as they moved. You can’t do that in a human study. Where the mice walked on treadmills, their brains shifted immediately after their abdomens contracted as they took steps. Under anesthesia, putting slight pressure on the abdomen of the mice caused the brain shift again, confirming the source of the movement.
Using computer modeling, scientists created a virtual 3D rendering of the veins that make up the pump between the abdominal cavity, spinal cord and brain. The simulation showed that abdominal tensing could trigger enough movement to push cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) through and out of the brain. CSF flow is known to remove waste products from the brain and prevent neurodegeneration. During sleep, it flows into the brain. Where we’re awake, it flows out. We have never known why the shift in direction was so clear between being awake and asleep. But it could be because, when you’re asleep, your abdomen isn’t contracting.
Prof. Drew said, “Our research shows that a little bit of motion is good, and it could be another reason why exercise is good for our brain health.”
While the idea of a workout can be overwhelming, the abdominal contraction in just sitting up from lying down or taking a step was enough to activate the pump. A little movement was all that was needed.
As always, we have to stress that this was animal research paired with computer modeling. They didn’t put windows into human skulls to look at what happens to our brains when we walk. So, it’s possible that the research doesn’t hold true for us. However, it is one study where we think it’s safe to embrace the findings even if they aren’t relevant to us. The worst thing that can happen is if you get a few more steps into the day to help your brain health. Maybe it won’t help your brain. But it won’t harm you!
