08/05/2025
Your legs are literally training your brain.
Researchers followed 324 identical twins for 10 years and discovered the twins with stronger legs consistently had better brain function a decade later, despite sharing identical DNA.
The stronger twin had more gray matter, larger brain volume, and significantly less cognitive decline. Just a 40-watt increase in leg power led to an 18% improvement in brain performance, equivalent to being 3.3 years younger cognitively.
Here’s why this matters: your legs contain your largest muscle groups and demand the most oxygen. When you strengthen them, you force increased blood flow and growth factors directly to your brain.
Simple activities like walking, taking stairs, or bodyweight squats triggered these brain-protective effects. Your legs are actively preventing brain atrophy and promoting new neuron growth.
While you can’t change your genes, you can change your leg strength. Start simple!! Your neurons are counting on it.
DOI: 10.1159/000441029
