Fred H. Bartlit, Jr., JD, and Wesley Smith, PhD, presented “Fred’s Verdict: Exercise as a Replacement for ‘Fight or Flight’ and Its Impact on Brain Health” for the Grand Rounds in Urology audience in March 2021.
How to cite: Bartlit, Fred H. Smith, Wesley. “Fred’s Verdict: Exercise as a Replacement for ‘Fight or Flight’ and Its Impact on Brain Health” March 2021. Accessed Dec 2024. https://dev.grandroundsinurology.com/freds-verdict-exercise-as-a-replacement-for-fight-or-flight-and-its-impact-on-brain-health/
Fred’s Verdict: Exercise as a Replacement for ‘Fight or Flight’ and Its Impact on Brain Health – Summary:
Fred H. Bartlit, Jr., JD, founder of Bartlit Beck LLP and co-founder of StrongPath, talks with Wesley Smith, PhD, Chair of the Undergraduate Exercise Physiology Program at the University of Miami and the Chief of Product Development for StrongPath, about the effects of exercise on brain health as well as the physiological benefits of how exercise mimics the body’s “fight or flight” response. Fred discusses research indicating that exercise is an essential component of brain health, as well as influencing and improving numerous biological processes. Dr. Smith breaks down how the evolutionary “fight or flight” response to stress actually has a positive impact on health and how exercise mimics that stress in a world with fewer threats. He also details the physiological processes resulting from exercise that can impact brain health.
Fred’s Verdict is a biweekly commentary from GRU focusing on health, exercise and nutrition and its impact on length and quality of life. For more on exercise and nutrition and its impact on long-term outcomes for patients, visit our Next Generation Learning Center, edited by Dr. Smith.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Wesley Smith, PhD, joined the faculty at the University of Miami in 2007, and is currently Chair of the Undergraduate Exercise Physiology Program and Director of the Graduate Program in Nutrition and Human Performance. In 1997, he graduated from Salisbury University with a BS in Exercise Physiology. Dr. Smith then attended the University of Florida, where he earned an MS in Exercise Physiology and began work on his PhD. Dr. Smith transferred to the University of Miami, where he dedicated his research time toward the betterment of muscle testing in the elderly and exploration of new exercise strategies specifically designed to combat age-associated functional decline. To this end, he developed an inexpensive, easy-to-use field test which can quantify lower body muscle power in seniors. Dr. Smith used the research as his dissertation and completed his doctoral degree at the University of Miami. After being hired as a Clinical Assistant Professor, he concentrated on converting the exercise physiology program to a more applied academical model and fostered a growing graduate program in nutrition. He has worked to enhance these academic programs by wielding an applied form of research called Guardrails. This service-based method of research has 3 goals: serve patients and optimize healthcare systems; assist students in learning from practical application and patient interaction; and provide evidence for the efficacy of physical activity, nutrition, and wellness programming.
