According to a study published in The Journal of Physiology, six minutes of high-intensity exercise can extend the lifespan of a healthy brain and delay the onset of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. This new research showed that a short but intense exposure stimulates the production of a specialized protein that is essential for brain formation, learning, and memory and could protect the brain from age-related cognitive decline.

The researchers revealed that this specialized protein, dubbed brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), promotes neuroplasticity and the survival of neurons. For the study, they enrolled 12 physically active participants between the ages of 18 and 56.

The findings of the study showed that vigorous exercise was the most efficient way to increase BDNF in comparison to one day of fasting with or without a lengthy session of light exercise. In the former case, BDNF increased by four- to five-fold in comparison to fasting (no change in BDNF concentration) or prolonged activity (a slight increase in BDNF concentration). 

(Source: https://theprint.in/health/scientists-reveal-that-six-minutes-of-high-intensity-exercise-could-delay-the-onset-of-alzheimers-disease/1312857/ )