Only in the past few decades, researchers have come to understand that humans create new brain cells throughout life. In fact, even well into the golden years, people make as many as 1,400 new neurons every day. It’s called neurogenesis, and it can offer a lot of hope for anyone struggling with their mental health.
Mazen A. Kheirbek and Rene Hen, researchers at Columbia University, report that neurogenesis can mean that people with PTSD or anxiety disorders can learn to differentiate between true threats and innocuous things. Neurogenesis may also help people with other mental health disorders, such as depression.
This is all great news, but there’s one catch: we don’t always do neurogenesis at the same rate. Many different factors impact how quickly people create new neurons. While there is still a lot to uncover about this, it’s becoming increasingly clear that exercise increases the rate of neurogenesis.
So, in short, exercise leads to more new brain cells, and those new cells can help you learn to be happier.
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