You don’t need a scientist to tell you walking more makes you happier, healthier and less prone to many ailments, but their research into ‘myokines’ is opening our eyes to the reasons why – and our mouths over just how much.
Sometimes described as the ‘hope molecules’, myokines are small proteins produced by the contraction of muscles every time you move. They’re already known to cross the blood-brain barrier, where they exert a powerful anti-depressant and anti-anxiety effect. But it’s now thought myokines also improve cognition, memory and motor co-ordination, as well as helping the body’s various systems – from brain to blood, bone, liver, gut, skin, heart and pancreas – ‘talk’ to each other and co-operate to mutual benefit. They’re effects so useful scientists are investigating the possibility of deriving medicinal compounds from myokines for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and to combat aging.
Investigators cite ‘remarkable improvements in life expectancy and quality’ and praise myokines’ ability to ‘improve human health and ameliorate multiple diseases’. Want to benefit from this remarkable new blockbuster medicine years before the general public? You can: just go for a walk.
