You and Your Brain Age Because…

by Michael D. Allen, DC, NMD
Functional Neurologist

Why does this seem to happen in your 30’s? Why do so many people fatigue more easily, lose muscle mass and have more immune issues after they turn 30? Is it from inactivity? Could it be from lifestyle changes? Research indicates that aging affects even those who watch their diet and exercise daily. But while diet and exercise are important, the rate at which one ages may have more to do with the way they exercise.

Studies have shown that exercise may have more to do with brain health than it does with muscle strength; every movement influences brain function. Healthy movement means a healthier brain, and vice versa.

Think about the fact that for every brain input there is a motor output. The highest priority signals to your brain come from your muscles and joints, and your brain generates a motor response for every incoming signal it receives. Every movement you make stimulates your brain, which generates another motor output. This goes on every second of every day of your life as you respond to your surroundings.

If everything about your movement stimulates your brain properly, then your brain’s output will perform according to intimate and predesigned movement patterns. But if your movement patterns are disorderly (which commonly happens, and it is painless), that confusion hinders your brain’s normal workings, and its motor output will likewise be hindered leading to a potential breakdown of joint stability, an increased injury potential and premature aging.

Here is a short example: I once described this process to a doctor from the National Institute of Health. I explained that while the predesigned movement patterns gave us human movement, any inappropriate movement patterns were therefore “other-than-human.” He asked me how movement could be, “other-than-human. What was that?” I clarified the issues for him in neurological detail, but I essentially said that if the sensory input and motor output were anything other than that which was originally programmed into the human nervous system it must be “other-than-human.” With that he tilted his head, hunched his shoulders and said that he agreed.

Hormones and Exercise

Did you know that only 10% of your brain’s total output influences your muscles? It is true. As much as 90% of your brain’s output actually goes to your organs and glands, and not to your muscles. So, if your brain generates an inappropriate output, and since your hormone signals start in your brain (the hypothalamus, to be exact), then an inappropriate movement pattern has a very high probability of also affecting your hormones.

The mother of all hormones is DHEA and if its production declines so will other hormones that flow from it. All hormonal breakdowns can be linked to muscle degeneration, a loss of stamina, increased fatigue and body fat, a decline in sex drive and an increased susceptibility to disease, not to mention (because of the input/output cycles) accelerated aging.

Let Me Help

I can help make your brain healthier. If you want to maintain your youth, that is, if you want your brain to be as robust as it can be for as long as possible, it would be worth your while to let me see if your nervous system is working in its most human fashion and according to its original design.

I can tell you find this whole aging idea interesting because you have read this far! Please give me a call. The exam is simple and painless, and many people find it exciting to see the before and after changes we can make in their brain health and slow their aging process.