The Secret to Happiness: Exercise-Induced ‘Hope Molecules’

In an age where stress and mental health issues have become a pervasive concern that’s permeated close to 20% of the U.S. population, a growing body of scientific research points to a powerful yet overlooked source of well-being: exercise-induced ‘hope molecules.’ 

These molecules are known as myokines, which are tiny proteins [that] are synthesized and released by contracting muscle cells when you exercise. 

Board certified internal medicine physician, Maria Conley, says, “These tiny chemical signals are the initial spark for many of the positive changes in your body that occur with exercise.” With an increasing understanding of that connection through new studies that corroborate this claim, evidence points to a new prescription for depression and anxiety: regular exercise might just be the best medicine after all.

How Do Myokines Work?

Endorphins have been long identified as the “feel-good hormones” responsible for the elation many experience post-exercise. However, myokines have recently taken their spotlight. 

The International Journal of the Society for Psychophysiological Research conducted a study on older adults which concluded that exercise can benefit depressive symptoms, which “might be at least partially attributable to so-called myokine action. For this, myokines and muscle-activity-related factors might be distributed by the bloodstream and pass the blood-brain-barrier.”

This means that, myokines have a remarkable ability to communicate with other organs and systems throughout the body with your bloodstream as the conduit, including the brain.

A Hopeful Revelation

These tiny proteins hold a potential to profoundly impact mental health for millions of people. Additional research reveals that myokines play a crucial role in promoting overall well-being, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, and enhancing cognitive function.

PhD Thomas Rutledge wrote, “Through the actions of myokines, muscle tissue communicates directly with the brain about its activity, triggering a cascade of biological responses that improve memory, learning, and mood.”

“Stimulating muscle tissue with resistance training has emotional effects rivaling those of conventional antidepressants and psychotherapies,” Rutledge continued. 

The connection between myokines and mental health underscores the importance of a holistic approach to well-being. It’s not about therapy as a standalone treatment, or a prescription as the only source of hope, but rather a combination of exercise with a balanced diet, adequate sleep, stress management, and social support that can create a robust foundation to improve mental health.

The emergence of myokines as ‘hope molecules’ in the pursuit of happiness represents a promising breakthrough in the field of science. These new studies clarify that exercise has an additional purpose in addition to physical benefits – nurturing the mind.

A Prescription for Happiness

The potential for the positive effects that regular exercise can have on the body has only just begun its journey of discovery. “Scientists have discovered very recently that there are over 650 different molecules that get made by muscles when they’re active. In fact, only five percent of the functions of those molecules are known,” psychiatrist Drew Ramsey remarks. “If you take individuals with some cognitive deficits, or struggling with depression, and you put them in a structured exercise program, you begin to see tremendous improvement in both their cognition and their mood.”

For those seeking happiness and a better state of mental health, this developing research presumes that the prescription might actually be simple: get moving. Engage in regular exercise that challenges your muscles and elevates your heart rate to release the ‘hope molecules’ that can transform your life. Myokines could be the secret to unlocking happiness, and their potential is already in you, waiting to be set free with every step, push, and lift.

References

Multiple Authors. (2 March 2021). “Basal myokine levels are associated with quality of life and depressed mood in older adults” https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/psyp.13799 The International Journal of the Society for Psychophysiological Research – Wiley Online Library. (2023). 

Rutledge, Thomas. (18 September 2022). “Why Working Your Muscles Can Be a Powerful Antidepressant” https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-healthy-journey/202209/why-working-your-muscles-can-be-a-powerful-antidepressant#:~:text=Through%20the%20actions%20of%20myokines,(see%20Figure%201%20below). PhyscologyToday. (2023).

Conley, Maria. (10 October 2021). “Activate Your Miyokines” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1Nh2BUfLG0 YouTube. (2023).

Multiple Authors. (16 June 2023). “National, State-Level, and County-Level Prevalence Estimates of Adults Aged ≥18 Years Self-Reporting a Lifetime Diagnosis of Depression — United States, 2020” https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/72/wr/mm7224a1.htm?s_cid=mm7224a1_w Center for Disease Control. (2023).

Ramsey, Drew. (22 June 2023). “Myokines: Yet Another Reason to Exercise” https://drewramseymd.com/mental-fitness/myokines-yet-another-reason-to-exercise/DrewRamseyMD.com (2023).

Photo. (5 Noviembre 2023). “People with Hands Together Excercise”. CanvaPro Stock Image.