American Heart Association
Summary: Regular aerobic exercise may protect the collateral circulation and lessen the severity of strokes later in life.
The network of blood vessels (collateral circulation) shrinks in number and diameter as the brain ages. Collateral circulation allows blood flow to be rerouted when arteries narrow. Using mice, researchers found that this loss of collateral vessels is prevented by exercise, according to a study presented at the American Heart Association’s International Stroke Conference 2017. 