Exercise benefits muscles and individual neurons

MIT engineers have found that exercise not only benefits muscles but also promotes the growth of individual neurons. When muscles contract during exercise, they release myokines—biochemical signals that stimulate neurons to grow four times farther than those not exposed to these signals. Additionally, neurons respond to the physical impact of exercise, such as being stretched and pulled during movement, which also promotes growth. This research underscores the significant biochemical and physical effects exercise has on nerve growth.