10/11/2025
Lifting is good for your brawn AND BRAIN!
When I was growing up, muscle was always portrayed in a very narrow caricature: people with a lot of muscle were dumb, simple minded, & unintelligent. This myth was so perpetuated that I remember feeling self conscious about being a competitive bodybuilder when I went to graduate school. I was worried that other scientists & students would judge me. Thankfully, I went to a great program with awesome mentors & lab mates where I never experienced it
What is really interesting is that this perception of ‘meatheads’ being dumb simply isn’t supported by the data. In fact, there is a strong inverse correlation between muscle mass/strength & cognitive decline as well as risk of Alzheimer’s, dementia, anxiety, & depression (PMIDs: 19901164, 34997702, 38734596, & 39910822). Additionally, regular resistance training has been shown to significantly reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, & schizophrenia (PMIDs: 26375919, 37429171, & 40711106).
Not only that, but resistance training has been demonstrated to improve cognition in healthy people as well as people with cognitive impairment & even improve testing scores in kids who regularly train (PMIDs: 30627769, 30838520, & 37466900)
It’s time to bury this myth that building muscle somehow means you will become a big dumb oaf. The research literature clearly demonstrates the opposite. Building muscle & strength is good for your body & your brain! Even Socrates said “no man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training.” If you want your brain to function at it’s best, then you need to push your body
Are you ready to get STRONG & build muscle? Hit the link in my bio to get the same programs I used to build my physique & strength. We have programs for every experience level, goal, & equipment availability… even minimalist home gyms. Subscribe to the BioLayne Workout Builder today