Physical activity is known to provide numerous health benefits, among which is the reduction of heart disease risk. This is partly due to its effect in decreasing brain activity associated with stress, a recent study suggests.
Understanding the connection between physical activity, stress, and heart health requires a multi-disciplinary approach, with research spanning the fields of cardiology, neurology, and psychology.
The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, suggests that physical activity can lower the risk of heart disease. This is accomplished by reducing brain activity triggered by stress, which in turn, lessens the strain on the heart.
The prefrontal cortex, a region of the brain associated with decision-making and goal-oriented behavior, plays a significant role in this process. The study found that gains in function in the prefrontal cortex were responsible for reducing stress-related brain activity. The prefrontal cortex is known to inhibit stress centers in the brain, which can contribute to cardiovascular health.
Interestingly, the study also found that individuals who are expected to experience more stress-related brain activity, such as those with depression, saw even greater cardiovascular benefits from physical activity.
“Physical activity was roughly twice as effective in lowering cardiovascular disease risk among those with depression. Effects on the brain’s stress-related activity may explain this novel observation,” said senior author Ahmed Tawakol, an investigator and cardiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, US.
For the study, the researchers analyzed medical records of over 50,000 participants who completed a survey on physical activity. They utilized data from the Mass General Brigham Biobank, a research program designed to understand how people’s genes, lifestyle, and environment impact their health.
Of these participants, over 700 underwent brain imaging tests and measurements of stress-related brain activity. The researchers then tracked these participants over a typical follow-up period of 10 years.
During this period, approximately 13% of the participants developed cardiovascular disease. The participants who met the physical activity recommendations had a 23% lower risk of developing heart and related diseases compared to those who did not meet these recommendations.
While more prospective studies are needed to identify potential mediators and prove causality, the findings provide valuable insights for healthcare providers and patients alike.
“In the meantime, clinicians could convey to patients that physical activity may have important brain effects, which may impart greater cardiovascular benefits among individuals with stress-related syndromes such as depression,” Tawakol advised.
