#79 - Exercise and the brain with Dr Jill Barnes

Jan 16, 2024

Dr Jill Barnes, an expert on the brain and exercise from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, discusses the effect of exercise on cognitive function, brain blood flow, dementia risk, and progression. Topics include measuring brain blood flow, regional blood flow in the brain, the relationship between exercise intensity and brain health, resistance training and cognitive function, the impact of exercise on brain endothelial function, and exercise's influence on the risk of stroke and dementia.

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ANECDOTE

Jill Barnes' Exercise Research Start

Jill Barnes started exercise research as a participant then became an undergraduate assistant.
She shifted majors to kinesiology after enjoying fitness instruction work and early research exposure.

INSIGHT

Measuring Brain Blood Flow

Brain blood flow measurement uses ultrasound on the temple to gauge velocity in key arteries like the middle cerebral artery.
Some measurements infer brain flow indirectly via carotid or vertebral arteries due to skull obstruction.

INSIGHT

Brain Blood Flow Regulation During Exercise

Brain blood flow slightly increases during moderate exercise but not massively due to skull space limits.
Brain vessels autoregulate flow to maintain stable blood supply despite blood pressure changes in exercise.

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Dr Glenn McConell chats with Associate Professor from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA. Jill is an expert on the brain and exercise. We discussed the effect of acute (one bout) and chronic physical activity/ exercise on cognitive function, brain blood flow (BBF), dementia/Alzheimer’s disease risk and progression etc. A very interesting chat. Twitter: @Barnes_Lab
0:00. Introduction and welcome
2:01. How Jill got into exercise research
4:25. Studying with Hiro O. Tanaka
6:00. Researching with Michael Joyner
7:45. How measure brain blood flow (BBF)
10:00. Blood vessels that supply the brain and blood flow
19:16. What would look at if had unlimited funding?
20:32. BBF vs glucose use in the brain
21:30. Regional blood flow in the brain
22:40. Does BBF increase during exercise?
24:40. Blood pressure and regulation of brain blood flow
29:00. Effect of exercise intensity in BBF
32:25. Hypnosis/anticipatory rises in BBF
34:30. BBF distribution has not been examined much during exercise
37:00. Cognitive tests and BBF
38:00. Why does BBF decrease during very intense exercise?
41:00. Central fatigue and BBF
42:30. Exercise training and BBF
45:00. BBF and cognitive function
46:20. How quickly does BBF increase with exercise?
47:25. Fitness and BBF at rest
49:55. Cognition and exercise/lifestyle
51:44. Exercjse intensity and the brain
53:10. Resistance training and cognitive function
55:07. Exercise and brain endothelial function
57:10. Exercise and the risk of stroke
59:35. Exercise and the risk of dementia/Alzheimers disease
1:02:14. Exercise and mental health
1:03:45. Diet and BBF/brain health
1:06:15. Sex differences in BBF
1:12:57. Age and BBF
1:15:20. Fitness/strength and cognition etc
1:16:10. Erythropoietin, hemoglobin and cognitive function.
1:18:48. Exercise and myokines, BDNF, exosomes
1:21:10. Neurogenesis and exercise
1:22:20. Exercise, cognition and hypertension/diabetes
1:25:00. Prevention of Alzheimer’s disease/dementia
1:27:00. Exercise intensity and mode of exercise
1:29:55. BBF during resistance exercise
1:31:20. Controversies in the field
1:34:52. Keep things simple re exercise
1:37:00. Takeaway messages
1:39:57. Outro
Inside Exercise brings to you the who's who of research in exercise metabolism, exercise physiology and exercise’s effects on health. With scientific rigor, these researchers discuss popular exercise topics while providing practical strategies for all.
The interviewer, Emeritus Professor Glenn McConell, has an international research profile following 30 years of Exercise Metabolism research experience while at The University of Melbourne, Ball State University, Monash University, the University of Copenhagen and Victoria University.
He has published over 120 peer reviewed journal articles and recently edited an Exercise Metabolism eBook written by world experts on 17 different topics (https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-94305-9).
Connect with Inside Exercise and Glenn McConell at:
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Email: glenn.mcconell@gmail.com
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Not medical advice