From Jumping Jacks to Regenerating Brain Cells to Crème Brulee

From jumping jacks to regenerating brain cells to crème brulee, GWTK women enjoyed an evening of physical, mental and tasty delights on Wednesday, March 9 at the North Andover Country Club. The topic focused on the effects of exercise on the brain and our panel of three experts were personal trainer Jenelle Nadeau, neuropsychologist Dr. Karen Postal and psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Boisture.

Aided by references to the new book called Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by Harvard Medical School psychiatrist and professor John J. Ratey, M.D. our panel informed us that exercise physically transforms our brains to positively impact our cognitive capabilities and emotional well-being. Exercise naturally increases levels of serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine - important neurotransmitters that traffic in thoughts and emotions - to improve our mood, alertness and ability to handle stress. Exercise can affect learning, stress, ADD/ADHD, anxiety, depression, addiction and aging.

When it comes to treating depression, some patients will still need to consider medication and/or psychotherapy, but Dr. Boisture says that she now routinely prescribes a regimen of exercise for her patients suffering from anxiety and depression.

Just how much exercise and for how long was the question of the night. All three panelists agreed that to get the maximum impact it takes 40 minutes of sweat-producing exercise about five times a week. Many in the audience exercised a groan at that news but were assured that even a 10-minute walk is better than nothing. The majority of us concluded the evening oohing and ahhing over the crème brulee and toasting to our good health and friendship.

For more information contact:

For more information about Spark and Dr. Ratey's program called Sparking Life, contact www [dot] getinvolved [at] sparkinglife [dot] org.