Researchers from Canadian universities are advocating for a paradigm shift in how medical professionals approach physical exercise, arguing it should be prescribed as a specific treatment for brain health rather than offered as a general lifestyle tip. In an article published this Tuesday in the scientific journal Brain Health, Carl Zhou and Nicholas Fabiano of the University of Ottawa, alongside Stanley Wong from the University of Toronto, assert that exercise deserves to be treated with the same rigor as pharmaceutical interventions.
The peer-reviewed publication emphasizes that brain health encompasses maintaining cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and social functioning throughout life, domains that physical activity significantly impacts. The authors reject the notion that exercise is merely a lifestyle choice, noting instead that it influences various aspects of cerebral function dependent on healthy blood vessels, balanced metabolism, controlled inflammation, and neuroplasticity.
Supporting their argument with clinical evidence, the researchers cite a 2011 randomized trial involving older adults which found that aerobic exercise increased the volume of the anterior hippocampus, thereby improving memory. Carl Zhou highlighted that while society often treats exercise as general advice, current data supports a prescription model that specifies the type of activity, frequency, intensity, duration, safety considerations, and follow-up plans, similar to how medications are managed.
Furthermore, randomized conclusions and meta-analyses indicate that physical activity interventions can reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, psychological distress, and suicide-related outcomes. A 2024 meta-analysis of randomized trials specifically found that walking, running, yoga, and strength training reduced depressive symptoms, with the most significant effects observed in activities performed at higher intensities.
The study also draws special attention to schizophrenia and other severe mental illnesses, which are associated with high rates of sedentary behavior, cardiometabolic diseases, and premature mortality. Stanley Wong noted that for individuals with schizophrenia, exercise can simultaneously address psychiatric symptoms, cognition, and physical health in a population with substantial unmet needs across all three areas.
While the World Health Organization recommends 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week for adults, or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous activity plus muscle strengthening on at least two days, the researchers acknowledge that depression can deplete energy and motivation. Nicholas Fabiano suggested that the starting point does not need to be impressive but must be possible, such as a five-minute walk, chair exercises, or daily tasks like walking a dog. He argued that repeated small successes build self-efficacy and habit, creating the necessary conditions for sustained activity.
Sources: Observador.