It is understood as Marathon A long -distance -atletic sports test in which 42 km and 195 meters have to be traveled At a constant pace with the aim of being the first to exceed the goal in the shortest possible time. The origin is in an ancient Greek legend.
This Sports events are usually huge, from great body -requirement and thousands of people can participate. They are held in the world nationally and internationally and many of them allow athletes to classify their country in this test during the Olympic Games.
Myelin is one Insulating layer, or pod, which is formed around the nerves, even those in the brain and spinal cord. It consists of proteins and fatty fabrics. Myelin -Schede makes it possible for electrical impulses to be transferred to neurons quickly and efficiently.
Myelin and marathons
The runners of Marathons experienced a decrease in the quantity Myelin -A dust around neurons- in certain brain areas After a marathon, according to a study with ten participants published in Nature metabolism And led by the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU). The effect was fully invested two months after the race.
According to the authors, more research is needed to evaluate whether these changes have any effect on neurophysiological and cognitive functions associated with these brain areas, but work reveals that most of the myelin of the brain is not influenced.
He Long -term exercise obliges the human body to resort to its energy reserves. The runners of marathon, For example, they mainly use carbohydrates, such as Glycogenas a source of energy, but they turn to Fed When glycogen is used up in the muscles.
Myelin, which surrounds the brain neurons and works as an electric insulatorIt mainly consists of lipids and earlier studies in rodents suggest that these lipids can work as an energy reserve in extreme metabolic circumstances.
The team led by Carlos Matute analyzed images of the brain that were taken Due to magnetic resonance of eight runners men and two women before and 48 hours after the 42 -kilometer race. They also took images of the brain of two of the runners two weeks later and those of six runners two months later as follow -up.
Less myelin in 12 areas
By measuring the amount of myelin, the authors discovered a constant reduction in the content thereof Substance in 12 white dust areas of the brain. These areas are related to motor coordination and sensory and emotional integration. After two weeks, the myeline concentrations had increased considerably, and They were completely recovered two months after the marathon.
The researchers point out that a limitation of the study is the small sample size and that evidence is needed in a larger cohort. Moreover, it is necessary to continue researching to settle The more extreme forms of exercise are related to the amount of myelin in the brain.