More than Muscle: The Use of Resistance Training to Improve Brain Health
- 1Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Houston, Houston, TX, US (CCD, SBS, PJP, CAJ)
Abstract
Neurological disorders have become one of the leading causes of health burden globally, creating a need to improve and optimize brain health. Exercise has become one of the key tools in improving and retaining brain health. Aerobic Exercise has been shown to significantly improve cognitive function in pre-adolescents and older adults. However, evidence suggests that resistance training can be a more potent mode of exercise. Resistance training improves brain health at both low and high intensity, while aerobic exercise is only beneficial at high intensity. Introducing novel variations into resistance training in the form of asymmetrical loading may enhance outcomes linked to better functioning of the brain. A bilateral asymmetrical training regimen introduces a biomechanical challenge to increase coordination and function. Such variations may improve executive function, which then increases adherence, causing a positive feedback loop sustaining participation in the exercise. While both modalities support neurological health, resistance training, when optimized through novel asymmetrical loading, emerges as a highly potent and accessible strategy for sustainable brain optimization.
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BibTeX
@article{doxakis2026more,
title = {{More than Muscle: The Use of Resistance Training to Improve Brain Health}},
author = {Christian C. Doxakis and Snehi B. Shah and Pranav J. Parikh and Craig A. Johnston},
journal = {American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1177/15598276261503252},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276261503252},
note = {CC BY-NC-SA},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - More than Muscle: The Use of Resistance Training to Improve Brain Health
AU - Christian C. Doxakis
AU - Snehi B. Shah
AU - Pranav J. Parikh
AU - Craig A. Johnston
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/03
JO - American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine
DO - 10.1177/15598276261503252
UR - https://doi.org/10.1177/15598276261503252
AB - Neurological disorders have become one of the leading causes of health burden globally, creating a need to improve and optimize brain health. Exercise has become one of the key tools in improving and retaining brain health. Aerobic Exercise has been shown to significantly improve cognitive function in pre-adolescents and older adults. However, evidence suggests that resistance training can be a more potent mode of exercise. Resistance training improves brain health at both low and high intensity, while aerobic exercise is only beneficial at high intensity. Introducing novel variations into resistance training in the form of asymmetrical loading may enhance outcomes linked to better functioning of the brain. A bilateral asymmetrical training regimen introduces a biomechanical challenge to increase coordination and function. Such variations may improve executive function, which then increases adherence, causing a positive feedback loop sustaining participation in the exercise. While both modalities support neurological health, resistance training, when optimized through novel asymmetrical loading, emerges as a highly potent and accessible strategy for sustainable brain optimization.
SN - 1559-8276
SN - 1559-8284
ER -