For the study, published in Cell Metabolism, NIH researchers isolated muscle cells from mice in petri dishes and added a peptide (an enzyme) that boosted cell metabolism, mimicking aerobic exercise and making the cells “think they were running.” Then the researchers tracked which proteins were released during the “exercise,” specifically looking for the ones that crossed the blood-brain barrier. One particular protein, called cathepsin B, spurred neurogenesis (brain cell creation) once it reached the brain. Cathepsin B is an important protein in helping sore muscles recover, helping to clear away cellular debris. Scientists had not, until now, considered it related to brain health.
Via Miloš Bajčetić