Exercise is a great way to maintain cardiovascular health and to make a person feel better. Almost all of us are familiar with the increase in energy and overall well being that can result from a good round of activity, but now researchers have found that exercise can actually reverse the psychological effects, including anxiety and depression, of trauma experienced earlier in life. It accomplishes this by changing the chemical composition in certain regions of the brain, specifically the hippocampus, which is responsible for regulating stress response.

The new findings, published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology, are the result of animal studies that examined the plasticity of the brain and its ability to modify neural networks. Previous studies had found that eating "comfort food," which are generally desirable foods high in fat and sugar, had a similar effect.

Scientists are aware of the fact that many neurological diseases are rooted in events that occur early in life, and thus represent a starting point for addressing these problems. In the study in question, offspring were either isolated from their mothers (test group) or given normal maternal contact (control group) over a set period of time.

The group that was denied the comfort of maternal contact, and were thus presumably subjected to greater stress, ended up being more anxious and had higher levels of stress hormones. They also displayed fewer receptors in the brain region responsible for controlling behavior.

However, when the test group was able to exercise by giving them access to a running wheel, the anxious behavior and the level of stress hormones were reduced and even reversed. The results support the previously held notion that exercise can improve mood, but takes it step further by suggesting a chemical pathway that is the basis for this change. One of the specific changes is in the compound brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which is known to help nerve cells grow.

Scientists have long known that many neurological diseases begin early in life, largely due to the fact that stress hormones alter the way neurons grow in the brain. In light of this, they hope to use this information to help gain better insight into ways to treat conditions that affect mood and behavior.

Exercise represents an ideal way to tackle such issues because it benefits a person's health in so many ways. Not only does it improve cardiovascular health, but exercise helps to prevent obesity and diabetes, and now, it may potentially ameliorate psychological trauma.

If you are suffering from anxiety or depression, talk to someone as soon as possible or seek professional help. Before beginning any exercise regimen, consult with your doctor or a fitness expert.