The Brain-Bone Connection

Many people are resistant to the concept of daily exercise, believing it to be an unenjoyable activity or primarily for young people. While some people believe that older people should not exercise as it could exacerbate bone loss or increase the risk of fractures, others think of exercise as something “extra” you do for weight management. Health statistics reveal that only about ten percent of the population above sixty-five engages in some form of regular physical exercise. Remember, exercise protects all parts of the body and brain. In general, aerobics, weight-bearing endurance exercise and resistance exercise strengthen the neural connections, bones, muscles, joints, and vertebrae. People who have a daily physical exercise regimen display better cognitive skills, strong mental immunity, and a resilient brain.

?When we talk about bones and/or joints, we are referring to the skeletal system of the body. The skeletal system provides structural support and is also a storehouse for calcium and phosphate. Up until now, it was assumed that the skeletal system is an inert calcified structure that only provides a structural framework to prevent the body from collapsing. But recent studies show that there’s more to the bones than just the support structure. Studies now point to the skeletal system as an endocrine organ responsible for secreting osteocalcin that is primarily involved in bone-building, bone mineralization, and maintaining calcium ion levels. The bones trigger the release of osteocalcin markedly during exercise that not only strengthens the skeletal system but has wide-ranging effects on the brain as well.

?Researchers noticed that animals that had been engineered to lack osteocalcin appeared docile, less rebellious, anxious, depressed, and displayed memory issues suggesting that the bone via osteocalcin influences memory, moods, and brain resilience. When animals were infused with osteocalcin, their moods improved, and their performance on memory tests became normal. Furthermore, osteocalcin from pregnant animals crossed the placenta and triggered the development and architecture of the fetus’s brain. Thus, it appears that bones communicate with neurons and shape the brain even before birth.

?So, what might the bone-brain nexus mean for human health? First, we know that age-associated degeneration in the skeletal system is associated with a reduction in bone mass. Additionally, aging also brings with it memory and cognitive loss, and emotional imbalance. It now appears that these age-associated degenerative events in the physical body, emotional imbalance, and memory losses may be related and interconnected, and osteocalcin may be one of the molecules cementing these processes. So, before you walk/sprint to the nearest pharmacy for a dose of synthetic osteocalcin, think of another attractive and natural alternative route to boost the bone-brain connection. Research studies show that the best method to strengthen the bone and prevent age-related cognitive decline is exercise.

Interestingly, in the Ayurveda medical sciences, the Majja dhatu (the central and peripheral nervous system) is derived from the Asthi dhatu (bone tissue). So, according to Ayurveda, since the bone serves as a precursor to the brain, changes in the bone will reflect in the brain and vice versa. Taken together (Western and Ayurveda understanding of anatomy and physiology) , we now know how the bone talks to the brain and fosters its development, and how exercise strengthens the bone-brain nexus. Simply put- the path to brain fitness starts from the bone!!