Marathons are so extreme that our brain makes drastic decisions, as how to consume itself

Running a marathon implies a considerable effort that can lead to our body to its limits. Of course, our brain is no exception in this regard. Effects on neurons. A new study has shown how marathons affect the structure of neurons. Specifically, the study responsible for the study found that this type of career Reduces myelina layer layer that covers these brain cells. This substance It is composed of proteins and fatty substances. Myelin Surround the axons, elongated parts of a neuron that connect it with other neurons and through which nerve impulses are transmitted. That is why its deterioration can make nerve impulses slow down, something we see in people with multiple sclerosis. High consumption. The energy consumption of the brain is very high if we take as reference its mass, Explain the responsible team From the new study: this organ consumes 20% of the energy of our body despite representing approximately 2% of its weight. The team wanted to find out what happened with an organ as avid to consume energy in extreme situations as a marathon. In reserve. And it is that these types of contexts force our body to take drastic measures for subsistence. Prolonged exercise, for example, can make our body exhaust its carbohydrate reserves, the primary source of body energy. The following energy reserve is in the fat we store. Already in extreme cases, our body can dissolve muscle proteins to obtain this energy, explains the equipment. As the team observed, this translates into the consumption of myelin that covers neurons. This reduction occurred in an important part of the gray and white matter of the brain and that, although some regions were more affected than others, the impact did spread similarly in the two cerebral hemispheres. “The results of our study indicate that nerve cells in conditions of hypoglycemia (little glucose) use alternative energy sources, such as myelin, a fat structure that surrounds the axons or nerve fibers that communicate the neurons and facilitates the ultra rapid propagation of the electrical signals,” Explain in a press release Carlos Matute, co -author of the study. Magnetic resonances. To carry out the study, the team made various resonances Magnetic to a dozen of marathon runners. They repeated these resonances on several occasions: the day before and the day after the race, two weeks and two months later. The details of the study have been published recently In an article In the magazine Nature Metabolism. A reversible change. The good news is that this change is reversible. The study itself showed how at two months, the myelin of the runners’ neurons recovered their usual levels. Uncertain impact. The study found a deterioration of myelin but for now we do not know how or to what degree this deterioration translated into effects on the cognitive functions of the brain. We know that the absence of myelin is linked to severe neurological disorders such as sclerosis. In Xataka | More and more people participate in popular marathons. Science knows that going as optimistic has its risks Image | Mārtiņš Zemlickis / Imgmidi

There are influencers chaining marathons for “solidarity.” Doubt is whether extreme sport really serves for that

Seven marathons in Seven consecutive days distributed throughout the planet, three races of 40 kilometers run in just day and a halfcomplete two Ironman In terms of a monthchain marathons non-stop Throughout a week … it sounds for science fiction version fitnessbut they are all real challenges assumed over the last months (or years) by athletes from Spain, in some cases with amateur profile. And almost all share two characteristics, in addition to the physical impact that they entail for them: a great visibility and a solidarity approach. Those who assume these careers of races often do so to raise funds that then dedicate to medical research, but with each test they are driving a few questions: do these tests make sense, beyond the one who wants to give each athlete? How do they affect your health? Are they just performances? Kilome -free bar. There are those who demonstrate their solidarity becoming a volunteer collaborator of an NGO, who donates clothes or food and who weers the shoes, goes out (or takes a plane) and is running kilometers as if there were no tomorrow. Examples are a few and, precisely because of the great echo they achieve, a simple search on Google arrives to find them. In 2020 a Basque set out to run A triathlon per month In a square to get funds for an electric chair, in 2021 another Madrid triathlete He decided to chain Two Iroman in a month to support the fight against cancer already finally 2024 Coach He commented with his plans to complete three times in a row one of the toughest ironman on the planet to, among other things, help “become aware of the true human potential,” in his own words. Are there more cases? Yes. Those above are just a handful of examples taken from a quick search on Google, but there are more, enough. A Catalan athlete has set out to run seven marathons in a week (about 295 km) to get funds for the ELA and a few days ago a influencer Extreme Sports A fan, Valentí Sanjuan, completed Another test Same amazing: he ran five consecutive marathons on five continents to finance the fight against childhood cancer. “I ran three marathons in a day and a half almost without sleep. It was hard,” explained to The newspaper After finishing the challenge, which culminated on Saturday in the center of Barcelona. A similar approach had The challenge than the too influencer Sergio Turull (pitufolow) assumed a few months ago: he went through Spain from top to bottom, from rate to Cap de Creus, in In infarction timewhich demanded that he assume some 65 kilometers a day. In addition to testing your personal abilities, the challenge sought to raise funds to fight childhood cancer. The case of Verdeliss. If there is a media example and that has achieved repercussion, it is however that of Verdelissbusinesswoman, influencermother of eight children and athlete who recently finished an equally extreme challenge: chanting seven marathons in seven days organized in different corners of the world, from Dubai to Perth, Antarctica and Miami, passing through the Spanish capital. The test was also accompanied by a message with solidarity dyes: the idea was to give visibility and gather funds to investigate A rare disease. But … Is money collected? Yes. The challenges give visibility to the causes that will lead and, at least in the most media cases, serve to raise funds. For example, in ‘My grain of sand’ it can be seen that Sanjuan has raised 20,400 euroswell above the 10,000 that had been marked as a goal, and Verdeliss’s challenge would have translated into 35,000 euros For a girl with Menke-Hennekan syndrome. As for Turull, I would have achieved some 58,000 euros. There are even more striking cases, such as the British corridor Gary McKeeprobably the most extreme of all. In fact he has won the nickname of ‘Marathon Man’. The BBC counts How he managed to raise one million pounds touring a route of 42 kilometers each and every one of the days of 2022, often before joining his work. It was polished 20 pairs of shoes. The approach was again solidary: money is collection For Macmillian Cancer Support and West Cumbria Hospice At Home and in fact the athlete has received remarkable recognition and the thanks of relatives with cancer. Solidarity (and something else). The big question is … to what extent are these challenges effective as fundraising campaigns? Do they have more implications? Do they compensate for the impact of the tests on the runners? The undeniable thing is that in cases such as Verdeliss, in which the protagonist is a influencerthe challenge has another consequence: expands clearly Its visibility and media impact, reinforcing an exhibition that is already considerable in networks. In the case of the Basque athlete, before even the running shoes, It transcended that its marathons would star in a documentary for Movistar Plus. Sanjuan Explain who has recorded another for Prime Video and Turull’s career have also been Video captured. The three add thousands of followers in Instagram either YouTubewhich gives more visibility to your deeds. The key: money. Another key is the cost that the challenges and funds that collect. Sanjuan explains, for example, that during his last challenge he had to sleep on flights low cost, And he says: “It has cost us the return to the world 2,800 euros.” “He ate what they gave us on the plane and slept in tiny seats.” In the case of Verdeliss the intercontinental challenge, which implied several flights, was made within the framework of the World Marathon Challengea circuit that demands considerable payment from participants. The mail assures That the Basque has disbursed around 39,000 euros, although she guarantees: “Everything leaves my pocket.” Between them they gathered more than 50,000 euros for their respective solidarity causes, but it is also true that there are other solidarity actions, such as auctionscollections or Exhibitionsthat gather thousands of euros without … Read more

There is a challenge to run seven marathons in seven days worldwide. And a Spanish with eight children is sweeping

In the world of sport there are demanding challenges, difficult, difficult, extreme challenges and then delusional challenges and within reach of physicists (and minds) with a iron resistance, such as the one he has decided to assume Estefanía Unzu Ripollbetter known in networks such as ‘Verdeliss’. Of 39 years and mother Outcutuplethis pamplonesa has proposed to end Seven marathons. The surprising thing is how you want to do it: the seven 42 -kilometer races are held in consecutive days… and in different parts of the planet. It has already begun. And he is not going wrong. Figure issue. Yes, the numbers are correct. All. Verdels is 39 years old, eight children and is embarked on the challenge of completing seven marathons that are held over seven days in seven different places on the planet. And by different we do not refer to small borders. No. The races that have already completed were held in Antarctica, Africa, Australia and Asia. The idea is to continue with Europe, South and North America. And all this, we repeat, in a period of Only 168 hours. Why’s that? There are several answers. If the question is why completing seven marathons in those seven places for seven days, the answer is simple: they are part of an international challenge that has already Some years celebrating, the World Marathon Challenge. The test has a limited number of squares and this year is celebrated over 168 hours in Antarctica, Cape (Africa), Perth (Australia), Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Madrid (Spain), Fortaleza (Brazil ) and Miami (United States). When they ask Verdeliss why he has decided to submit to such a test (and of course, it is something that They have asked him During the last weeks) she replies that he seeks to “live life intensely” and enjoy without the fears limited. Your participation It also has a solidarity component. As I explained recently At 20 minutes, he wants to raise funds for the investigation of a rare disease, the Menke-Hennekam syndrome. Verdeliss herself is in contact with Claudia’s mothera girl who suffers from it. Hard test, good results. The challenge is still underway and he has several days left to finish, but for the moment the Navarra is doing well. Quite wellin fact. In Antarctica he crossed the goal after 3 hours, 38 minutes and 53 secondsin Cabo del Cabo he did it in 3 hours, 10 minutes and 14 secondsIn Australia he toured almost 42 kilometers in 3 hours, 10 minutes and 30 seconds And in Arab Emirates completed the challenge in 3 hours, 9 minutes and 46 seconds. With such brands the Spanish has not only managed to finish all the races, but even becoming the first woman to reach the finish line or even getting the men who compete in the test. Ahead they have three races: that of Madrid, which is celebrated today, and that of Brazil and Miami, which it will face throughout Wednesday and Thursday to complete the circuit. “I have carbonized skin”. That meets its objectives does not mean that the extreme challenge is not taking its toll to the Navarra athlete. In his Instagram profile he has been recounting for example how he has encountered stomach problemssome difficulties To rest aboard the “military” plane in which they travel between continents, Discomfort in the quadriceps and also some other unforeseen. “My only discomfort is that I have charred skin … the rush is not good advisors and I forgot to apply the sunscreen,” I wrote From Cape City. Although Verdeliss has been running and has already achieved some notable feat, such as becoming Champion of Spain 100 km, in January I recognized to The country that the new challenge would force her to face the unknown. “I have run 27 marathons in 24 months, but this time one of them is extremely cold in Antarctica. I have never experienced such low temperatures, or running with some nails in the shoes.” Beyond the seven marathons. The challenge of the seven marathons in seven days has given him even more visibility, but the truth is that Verdeliss has been used to be under the spotlights. On Instagram, where he shows his facet as a athlete and mother of eight children he adds around one and a half of followers and on YouTube it has 2.1 million of subscribers. Also He has participated In ‘Big Brother Vip’ and ha called attention of the press for his sports successes. Professional, in addition to their work in networks acts as CEO of a cosmetics firm. Images | World Marathon Challenge 777 1 and 2 and Verdeliss In Xataka | More and more people participate in popular marathons. Science knows that going as optimistic has its risks

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