Military Study: Aerobic Exercise as an Effective Treatment for mTBI

David K Johnson, PhD and the Department of Defense have teamed up to investigate the healing effects of aerobic exercise on mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI). The researchers are focusing on United States soldiers who have experienced brain injuries from improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, in Iraq and Aphganistan. While rarely resulting in penetrating harm, IEDs are a common tool of terrorist organizations and their detonation can result in severe head trauma followed by up to six minutes of loss consciousness. Johnson’s results, which show beneficial improvements to soldiers’ conditions upon significant exercise, may have broad implications to those diagnosed with mTBI that are fit enough for aerobic exercise.

Although a specialist on Alzheimers, Johnson appreciates the possible overlaps with mTBIs in younger patients when it comes to the biochemical processes in the brain. When talking about his study, which was spearheaded by a $500,000 grant to improve the life quality of US soldiers, Johnson explains that, “An awful lot of the biochemical process in mTBI appears to be related to Alzheimer’s disease […] we know aerobic exercise can reduce the amount of biochemicals associated with Alzheimer’s disease, reduce the plaques and tangles, so we think it will work with mTBI as well. Aerobic exercise helps the brain heal itself.” To further test this hypothesis, Johnson is working with one hundred volunteers at Fort Riley to test for cognitive fitness before and after structured aerobic training.

mTBI is the most common brain injury. Athletic activity and warfare dramatically increase the chance of mTBI, most often due to non-penetrating impact on the brain. The good news is, however, that young athletes, soldiers, and veterans that have mTBI can still partake in aerobic exercise unless physically barred from running. Johnson and his team are hopeful and eager about their study. Moreover, by looking for physical and chemical signatures, more can be understood about prolonged brain injuries. “Because mTBI shares so much biologically with early Alzheimer’s disease,” Johnson explain, “I hope that what is working in our older adults also works in these young men and women.”

SOURCE: 

https://news.ku.edu/2016/12/06/researchers-use-aerobic-exercise-promising-treatment-wounded-warriors-mild-traumatic

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