Research into Mental Health & Exercise
The secret to why exercise is so good for mental health? ‘Hope molecules’
Devi Sridhar
What we long suspected is now scientific fact: there’s a magic chemical connection between mood, strength and longevity
Exercise, in whatever form, and for however long, just makes life feel better. I feel it myself after a walk-up Arthur’s Seat here in Edinburgh, a jog around the Meadows, or a sweaty hot yoga session in Leith. The physical benefits of movement such as lowered blood pressure, reduced risk of diabetes and cancer, and healthy ageing, are well-known, and we’re beginning to understand more about the mental health benefits as well.
One of the most interesting health research projects of the past decade or so has looked at how exactly exercise makes us feel good. Research shows that there appears to be a clear scientific reason, that we can see at a cellular level. When muscles contract, they secrete chemicals into the bloodstream. Among these chemicals are myokines, which have been referred to as “hope molecules”. These small proteins travel to the brain, cross the blood-brain barrier, and act as an antidepressant. They do this by improving our mood, our ability to learn, our capacity for locomotor activity, and protect the brain from the negative effects of ageing. This has been referred to as “muscle-brain cross-talk”.
