“Scientists have known for a while that both of these activities alone can help with depression,” says Tracey Shors, a professor of exercise science at Rutgers and co-author of the study. “But this study suggests that when done together, there is a striking improvement in depressive symptoms along with increases in synchronized brain activity.” The study included 52 participants—22 diagnosed with depression. For eight weeks, volunteers meditated for 30 minutes and completed 30 minutes of aerobic exercise twice a week. Researchers tested their ability to concentrate and mood before and after the eight weeks of training. The 22 participants with depression reported a 40% reduction in their symptoms. The other individuals in the study without a diagnosis of depression also reported a decrease in ruminative thoughts, anxiety, and an overall improvement in motivation. Brandon Alderman, lead author of the study, hypothesizes that meditation and running together might strengthen neural mechanisms in the brain. From writer Gretchen Reynolds in The New York Times: Since this is a small study, it remains to be seen if these improvements are sustained.
