One Way Making Muscles Burn Builds Bigger Brains

Key points

Exercise-induced muscle burn triggers lactate release into the bloodstream.

Lactate acts as a messenger that increases BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor).

Elevated BDNF supports neurogenesis, neuroplasticity, and stronger synaptic connections.

Pushing through the burn boosts BDNF, fueling brain growth.

Last week, I wrote a post about how high-intensity aerobic exercise can stimulate the release of brain-derived neurotrophic factor ( BDNF ), a protein that's often described as Miracle-Gro for the brain.

This week, new research takes us one step closer to understanding how BDNF is regulated. Scientists have shown that lactate—the molecule your muscles churn out when they're burning during vigorous workouts—may be the key molecular messenger that gets BDNF fl