Regular physical activity is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Not only is exercise good for your muscles and bones, but it is also an important part of keeping your brain healthy. From building intelligence to improving memory, exercise boosts brainpower.
Exercise increases your heart rate and with that, blood flow to the brain, exposing your brain to more oxygen and nutrients. Exercise also induces the release of beneficial proteins in the brain. These nourishing proteins keep brain cells (also known as neurons) healthy, and promote the growth of new neurons. Neurons are the working building blocks of the brain. As a result, individual neuron health is important to overall brain health.
Exercise has also been shown to improve mental abilities. On average, children and young adults who exercise tend to have better test scores in math and reading when compared to those who don’t.
Studies also suggest that regular physical activity can help maintain and enhance brain function in older adults and one major study shows the notion that physical exercise is an effective non-pharmaceutical approach to enhance and maintain cognitive functions in older adults.
Another paper brings important information showing that physical activity significantly helps improve verbal and spatial memory in older adults.
Bottom line, regular exercise keeps your brain healthy and smart!
Comments