By Emma Spencer, Science & Technology Reporter

Most people know exercise can make you look better, but the benefits of regular workouts is far more than skin deep, with yet another study indicating exercise strengthens not just your muscles, but your brain.

Exercise is already well known to support mental health, and researchers say those benefits may also play a role in protecting the brain over time.

The research, released at the Radiological Society of North America’s annual meeting, analyzed MRI scans from 1,164 adults in their mid-50s. Scientists compared each person’s “brain age” — a measure of age-related structural changes — with muscle mass and different types of body fat.

The findings were consistent:
Adults with higher muscle mass tended to have “younger”-looking brains, while those with greater visceral fat — the deeper abdominal fat around organs — showed signs of accelerated brain aging. Subcutaneous fat under the skin did not show the same connection.

Dr. Cyrus Raji, senior author of the study, said “losing fat — especially visceral fat — while preserving muscle volume would have the best benefit on brain ageing and brain health.” He emphasized the role of resistance training and adequate protein intake.

This study adds to a large body of evidence showing that exercise supports not only physical health but mental well-being. Previous research has repeatedly found that regular physical activity:

• reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression
• improves sleep and stress response
• supports healthy blood flow to the brain
• increases levels of endorphins and neurotransmitters associated with mood regulation
  
  

Taken together with the new findings on brain aging, the message is becoming clearer:
Exercise benefits both the structure of the brain and the way it functions day-to-day.

The study also raises implications for GLP-1 weight-loss medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy. Many users report losing fat and muscle simultaneously. If muscle mass plays a role in preserving brain age, future versions of these drugs may need to protect lean tissue more effectively. Drugmakers are already working in that direction.

Memory loss and cognitive decline remain major public concerns as people age. While no single factor determines outcomes, this research strengthens what many scientists have said for years:

Exercise is not only important for the body — it may help preserve memory, mental health, and long-term brain function.

Even modest strength training, regular walking, or any routine that builds muscle and reduces visceral fat can make a measurable difference over time.