Binary_Bark
Forging
More than a million people of nearly all ages lace up their trainers and hit the pavement in a marathon every year. And while running any distance has numerous health benefits, researchers warn that going the distance may not be so good for the brain – with the negative effects lingering for a month following a race.
Scientists at Spain's University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) have identified a link between marathon running and a sharp reduction in the protective myelin that surrounds nerve fibers – axons – in the brain. This insulating layer is critical for facilitating the transmission of electrical signals in the brain and spinal cord – and a loss of myelin is one biomarker of many neurological conditions, including stroke and multiple sclerosis.

Bizarre brain "shrink" seen in long-distance runners
More than a million people of nearly all ages lace up their trainers and hit the pavement in a marathon every year. And while running any distance has numerous health benefits, researchers warn that going the distance may not be so good for the brain – with the negative effects lingering for a…
