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Are Genetics the reason you enjoy exercising?

Wed, 11 Jun 2014 21:45:56 +0000



Do you enjoy exercising? Do you feel that ultimate reward after a good hard work out? Well it may be caused through our genetics.



Researchers from the University of Missouri have conducted a study using rats to observe the effects of genetics on willingness and motivation to exercise. As research progressed they found that when they bred the rats into two different groups (the rats who were always willing to be on the wheel(A) and those who were sedentary(B) ) the pups born from group A would get up and run around and even get on the running wheel and run for almost 34 kilometers (21 miles), as opposed to group B who would run maybe 3.4 kilometers.



The results of the experiment then indicated that there is a difference in the brain’s genetic activity between the groups A & B.



The brain is a intriguing organ that we still have so much to learn about, however the researchers found some intriguing differences in the activity of certain genes in their brains. In normal circumstances, these genes create proteins that tell young cells to grow up and join the working world. But if the genes don’t function normally, the cells don’t receive the necessary chemical messages and remain in a prolonged, feckless cellular adolescence. Such immature cells cannot join the neural network and don’t contribute to healthy brain function.



so to break it down, these genes will work normally in the brains of group A , however in group B the portion of the brain called the nucleus accumbens, which is involved in reward processing was not working properly.. Basically group B who does not have the gene  doesn’t get that rewarded feeling from exercising like group A does.



What these findings mean for humans is impossible to know at this time mainly because rat brains are not human brains.



Although Dr. Booth said his research would seem to suggest “that humans may have genes for motivation to exercise and other genes for motivation to sit on the couch,” and over generations, one set of these genes could begin to predominate within a family.



 Ultimately  People can decide to exercise, what ever their inheritance. The final study suggests you could rewire your brain so that moving becomes a pleasure opposed to a nuisance.



now you may ask what does that have to do with Massage Therapy… well not a whole lot actually, but working out doesn’t always have to be active, massage in a way is like a small work out depending on the type of body work you get done. Massage can be a passive work out.

Resources



       By GRETCHEN REYNOLDS

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/04/09/are-you-programmed-to-enjoy-exercise/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0