Reversible reduction in brain myelin content upon marathon running

Marathon runners undergo reversible reductions in myelin in the brain during a race, study reveals

A team of neurologists, neuroradiologists and biomaterials specialists affiliated with several institutions in Spain has found that marathon runners undergo a reversible reduction in myelin in the brain during a race. In their study published in the journal Nature Metabolism, the group analyzed MRI scans of marathon runners before and after a race and then at later intervals to learn more about how participating in long races impacts the brain.

Reversible reduction in brain myelin content upon marathon running

Here we use magnetic resonance imaging to study the impact of marathon running on brain structure in humans. We show that the signal for myelin water fraction—a surrogate of myelin content—is substantially reduced upon marathon running in specific brain regions involved in motor coordination and sensory and emotional integration, but recovers within two months. These findings suggest that brain myelin content is temporarily and reversibly dimini…

Marathon running could negatively impact your brain, study says

MARATHON running may burn brain cells, according to a study.Runners’ bodies digest fat when there are no carbs from food available.But along with fl

The brain, which consumes 20% of body energy, shows changes in myelin after marathons, revealing implications for neurological health.

Marathon running can destroy the brain

A study has revealed that runners' bodies digest fat when there are no carbohydrates from food available, and experts believe that it is harvested from areas of the brain, potentially affecting the organ's functions. Post-marathon MRI scans on eight men and two women showed a reduction in myelin, a fatty covering that protects nerves and speeds up electrical signals. Dr Carlos Matute of the University of the Basque Country in Bilbao, Spa…

Magnetic resonance imaging revealed temporal alterations in areas of the brain related to emotional processing, sensory perception and motivational self-regulation after marathon races. These images arise from a study led by neuroscientist Carlos Matute and published in Nature Metabolism under the title “The exercise of resistance induces transient myelin plasticity in the adult human brain.” The findings point to a reduction in the amount of my…