Exercise Activates Brain BMP, New Neurons As We Age

RoseTracker| Our brains have a pool of stem cells that remain dormant until triggered to divide and make more neurons. This process of neurogenesis slows down with aging, unless we jump start our brains, using exercise to shrink an aging hippocampus and fire up our production of new neurons. 

Scientists have located the BMP receptor as charged with keeping a supply of neural stem cells quiet, so that we don’t run out of new brain cells ahead of schedule. Mother Nature isn’t playing a Las Vegas crap game with our minds, and so she keeps some future brain power in reserve. 

Over time, this BMP receptor may well become dominant in our brains. Without exercise as a spark plug, our future neurons stay sleeping at our expense. via Science Daily