March is National Brain Injury Awareness Month. There are a lot of surprising ways you can injure your brain. Some of them involve external trauma, like a really hard blow to the head. Others involve objects that contact or penetrate the brain directly. You can also acquire a brain injury in any stage of life due to things that damage the brain, from a lack of oxygen during birth, excessive alcohol or drug consumption, a stroke, a brain tumour, or an infection or inflammation. Regardless of the cause, a brain injury is something that can create enduring mental and physical symptoms.
When it comes to brain health, research continues to show that exercise is good for your brain in a variety of ways. From my perspective, if exercise is good for something, then adding KAATSU to exercise is going to be even better. There are a few ways adding KAATSU to your life could help you keep your brain healthy.
Increasing Vascular Elasticity
Healthy brains require healthy blood flow. 20% of the blood pumped with every heartbeat is needed by your brain. Regular KAATSU use improves overall circulation. One of the methods it does this is by improving vascular elasticity through the additional release of Nitric Oxide (NO) from the endothelial cells that line the blood vessels. It is hypothesized that stiff arteries and blood vessels contribute to tiny injuries in the brain due to fluctuations in flow and pressure. KAATSU may help reduce the potential of those types of circulation-related brain micro-injuries.
Increasing IGF-1
A molecule produced by our bodies called Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) plays a role in maintaining good cognitive function. Lower levels of IGF-1 has been shown to lower mental processing speeds and creates impairments in working and spatial memory. Research shows that increasing circulating IGF-1 levels can reverse those cognitive effects in both humans and animals. Using KAATSU during short-term, low-intensity resistance training produces higher levels of IGF-1 than the same exercise done without KAATSU.
More Brain-Derived Neurotropic Factor (BDNF)
One of my favourite things about the brain is its ability to modify itself. This neuro-plasticity is facilitated by a protein called BDNF, which helps brain cells stay growing and healthy. It encourages neurons to grow, improves neuronal function, helps guard against premature cell death, and improves communications between neurons. A brain with more BDNF works better. Lower levels of BDNF are associated with impaired learning, Alzheimers disease, epilepsy, depression, and multiple mental and cognitive conditions.
There are clear links showing that exercise increases BDNF levels. One of the molecules that leads to more BDNF production is lactate, which is a byproduct of intense exercise. However, it’s also been very well demonstrated that KAATSU combined with low-intensity exercise creates similar lactate levels as high-intensity exercise. So, less work with KAATSU creates lots of lactate which can then stimulate BDNF production which benefits your brain.
Every brain injury is different. Some people will see symptoms improve while others will not. I’ve been fortunate to have recovered well from the multiple concussions I’ve had in my life. Going forward, part of my brain health regime is to use KAATSU. While KAATSU certainly is not a cure for a brain injury, it is a way to support the body’s healing mechanisms which in turn may have a beneficial effect on one’s brain.
Happy National Brain Injury Awareness Month!
Disclaimer: KAATSU protocols have not been evaluated by Health Canada. KAATSU is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease and its use should be evaluated by your own physician before use.