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Regular exercise improves weight control, protects against developing type 2 diabetes, and improves cardiovascular health. But how? In 2012, researchers showed that exercise leads to the production of a hormone, irisin, that transforms white fat cells (which store fat) into brown fat cells (which burn fat) and improves insulin resistance (NEJM JW Gen Med Mar 15 2012 and Nature 2012; 481:463), suggesting a mechanism by which regular exercise confers metabolic and cardiovascular benefits.
Regular exercise also enhances cognition in humans and in mice. Might irisin be a mediator of enhanced cognition as well? In a new study, investigators report that, when the gene that encodes irisin was knocked out in mice, regular exercise did not improve co…