Marathon running is often seen as a top choice for fitness, but it can seriously stress your body. It has been linked to kidney damage, digestive issues, heart problems, and injuries. Interestingly, the story of the first marathon runner, Pheidippides, is a cautionary tale; he reportedly died just after completing his run. It seems marathons can also impact the brain, causing it to use its own resources for energy during the race.
A study published in Nature Metabolism found that marathon runners experienced a drop in a vital brain substance called myelin right after running. This fatty tissue is crucial for insulating brain cells, and its depletion suggests that the brain may consume myelin to get the energy it needs when running long distances.
Fortunately, these effects seem temporary. After a period of recovery, the brain typically returns to normal. Research indicates that the brain uses a lot of energy—about 20% of what your body uses. So when standard energy sources like glucose run low, the brain looks for alternatives, including fats from myelin.
Pedro Ramos Cabrer, a neuroscientist involved in the study, explained that their goal was to explore how the brain taps into its energy reserves. Earlier studies in animals hinted that myelin breakdown could be a potential fuel source. However, whether this holds true for humans needed further investigation.
In their study, researchers scanned the brains of ten runners before and after a marathon. They found that two days post-race, key brain areas showed decreases in myelin levels, particularly in regions responsible for movement and emotional regulation. Cabrer believes these changes highlight the mental and physical demands of finishing a marathon.
The good news is that after two months, all myelin levels returned to their original state. However, Klaus-Armin Nave, a neuroscientist who has studied myelin’s role in energy storage, warned that while it’s important not to overthink these findings, they do suggest that extreme endurance activities can increase the brain’s metabolic demands.
Interestingly, some experts are cautious about how excessive exercise might affect specific groups, such as those with conditions like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In these cases, myelin-related metabolic products may already be in short supply, and intense exercise could worsen the situation. More research is needed to fully understand these risks.
While the study raises important questions about marathon running and its impact on the brain, experts agree that the potential brain changes do not mean runners should shy away from marathons. The research helps shed light on how demanding physical activity can be on mental health and highlights the need for continued investigation into the effects of endurance sports on brain health.
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