Research: Exercise, Nutrition & The Brain

A recent study conducted by Romain Meussen from Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Department of Human Physiology) published some key findings in Sports Science Exchange.

Romain Meussen's team does research on exercise, nutriation and brain development and brain maintenaince. Photo: Vimeo Creative Commons

"Physical activity has been associated with the reduction of a number of physical and mental disorders. There is now ample evidence that physical activity will decrease the incidence of cardiovascular disease, colon and breast cancer and obesity, but also diseases such as Alzheimer’s, depression and anxiety (Gómez-Pinilla, 2011; Van Praag, 2009). A number of large, prospective and cross-sectional observational studies find that the dietary profile benefiting cognitive function with aging contains weekly servings (2 - 5) of fish and multiple daily servings of cereals, darkly or brightly colored fruits and leafy vegetables (Parrott & Greenwood, 2007). Both diet and exercise have therefore been used as interventions to reverse the possible negative effect of ageing in brain function. This paper will describe how exercise and nutrition can influence brain development, brain  performance and cognition"

Key Findings

• Exercise and nutrition can influence brain development in youth.
• Exercise and nutrition can slow down and reverse cognitive decline in the elderly.
• Exercise and nutrition influences brain health through several mechanisms that create new neurons (neurogenesis). 
• Fatigue during exercise can reside in the brain.
• Nutritional interventions may influence the occurrence of “central or brain fatigue” during exercise. 

1. Sports Science Exchange (2013) Vol. 26, No. 112, 1-6
   https://secure.footprint.net/gatorade/prd/gssiweb/pdf/112_Meeusen_SSE.pdf
2. http://vimeo.com/29659034

Research: The Right Ventricle Best Predicts the Race Performance in Amateur Ironman Athletes

Can the potential and actual performance of Ironman triathletes be measured and predicted by reviewing their hearts? How important is the right ventricular fraction? A recent study from Alain M. Bernheim et al had some key findings.

In amateur Ironman triathletes, right ventricle end-diastole area and percent body fat were independently related to race performance. Right ventricle end-diastolic area was the strongest predictor of race time. The role of the right ventricle in endurance exercise may thus be more important than previously thought and needs to be further studied. Photo: Wikipedia Commons

Methods

"Amateur IM athletes (ATHL) participating in the Zurich IM race in 2010 were included. Participants were examined the day before the race by a comprehensive echocardiographic examination. Moreover, anthropometric measurements were obtained the same day. During the 3 months before the race, each IM-ATHL maintained a detailed training diary. Recorded data were related to total Ironman race time."

Results

"Thirty-eight Ironman finishers (average age 38+/-9 years, 32 male [84%]) were evaluated. Average total race time was 684+/-89 minutes. For right ventricular fractional area change (average: 45+/-7%, Spearman-[rho]=-0.33; p=0.05) a weak correlation with race time was observed. Race performance exhibited stronger associations with percent body fat (15.2+/-5.6%, [rho]=0.56; p=0.001), speed in running training (11.7+/-1.2 km/h, [rho]=-0.52; p=0.002), and left ventricular myocardial mass index (98+/-24 g/m2, [rho]=-0.42; p=0.009). The strongest association was found between race time and right ventricular end-diastolic area (22+/-4 cm2, [rho]=-0.64; p<0.0001). In multivariate analysis, right ventricular end-diastolic area (beta=-16.7, 95% confidence interval: -27.3-[-6.1]; p=0.003) and percent body fat (beta=6.8, 95% confidence interval: 1.1-12.6; p=0.02) were independently predictive of Ironman race time."

Conclusions

"In amateur IM-ATHL, RV end-diastole area and percent body fat were independently related to race performance. RV end-diastolic area was the strongest predictor of race time. The role of the RV in endurance exercise may thus be more important than previously thought and needs to be further studied."

1. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise: POST ACCEPTANCE, 12 March 2013
   http://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/Abstract/publishahead/The_Right_Ventricle_Best_Predicts_the_Race.98413.aspx