Physical activity jolts brain into action in the event of depression


Date:
August 4, 2021
Source:
Ruhr-University Bochum
Summary:
The dual beneficial effect of physical activity in depression
is confirmed by a new study: physical activity not only reduces
depressive symptoms. It also increases the brain's ability to
change.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Physical activity does the brain good. For example, it fosters its
ability to change and adapt.


==========================================================================
The dual beneficial effect of physical activity in depression is confirmed
by a study at the University Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
at Ruhr- Universita"t Bochum (RUB) at the Ostwestfalen-Lippe campus:
physical activity not only reduces depressive symptoms. It also increases
the brain's ability to change, which is necessary for adaptation and
learning processes.

"The results show how important seemingly simple things like physical
activity are in treating and preventing illnesses such as depression,"
says study leader associate professor Dr. Karin Rosenkranz.

The study was published on 9 June 2021 in the journal Frontiers in
Psychiatry.

Exercise programme promotes motivation and togetherness People with
depression often withdraw and are physically inactive. To investigate
the effect of physical activity, Karin Rosenkranz's working group
enlisted 41 people, who were undergoing treatment at the hospital, for
the study. The participants were each assigned to one of two groups,
one of which completed a three-week exercise programme. The programme,
which was developed by the sports science team from the University
of Bielefeld led by Professor Thomas Schack, was varied, contained fun elements, and did not take the form of a competition or test, but instead required teamwork from the participants.

"This specifically promoted motivation and social togetherness while
breaking down a fear of challenges and negative experiences with physical activity - - such as school PE lessons," explains Karin Rosenkranz. The
other group took part in a control programme without physical activity.

The study team ascertained the severity of the depressive symptoms, such
as a loss of drive and interest, lack of motivation and negative feelings,
both before and after the programme. The brain's ability to change, known
as neuroplasticity, was also measured. It can be determined externally
with the help of transcranial magnetic stimulation. "The ability to change
is important for all of the brain's learning and adaptation processes," explains Karin Rosenkranz.

Ability to change increased -- symptoms decreased The results show that
the brain's ability to change is lower in people with depression than
in healthy people. Following the programme with physical activity, this
ability to change increased significantly and achieved the same values
as healthy people. At the same time, depressive symptoms decreased in
the group. "The more the ability to change increased, the more clearly
the clinical symptoms decreased," summarises Karin Rosenkranz. These
changes were not so pronounced in the group who took part in the control programme. "This shows that physical activity has an effect on symptoms
and the brain's ability to change. We cannot say to what extent the change
in symptoms and the brain's ability to change are causally linked based
on this data," says the doctor, referring to the limitations. "It is
known that physical activity does the brain good, as it, for instance,
promotes the formation of neuron connections.

This could certainly also play a role here." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Ruhr-University_Bochum. Original
written by Meike Driessen. Note: Content may be edited for style and
length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Wanja Bru"chle, Caroline Schwarzer, Christina Berns, Sebastian Scho,
Jessica Schneefeld, Dirk Koester, Thomas Schack, Udo Schneider,
Karin Rosenkranz. Physical Activity Reduces Clinical Symptoms
and Restores Neuroplasticity in Major Depression. Frontiers in
Psychiatry, 2021; 12 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.660642 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/08/210804123610.htm

--- up 12 weeks, 5 days, 22 hours, 45 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)