Boost brain power and memory with exercise
Regular physical exercise can be extremely beneficial for many systems of the body including the heart and cardiovascular system, as well as helping to maintain a healthy weight and prevent illness and disease. While these benefits are well documented there is less awareness of the way in which the brain, and in particular the memory, benefit from exercise. As people age they often report finding it more difficult to remember facts and details of day to day life, not to a serious degree where the issue of dementia may be raised, but merely finding things are not as efficient as they used to be. Well the good news is that there are ways to improve memory and brain function through physical exercise.
Scientists have shown that exercise improves the brain’s executive function – the term used to describe basic functions such as speed of process, response speed and working memory. These brain functions help us in everyday situations, such as remembering a person’s name or where you parked the car. Studies have shown that executive function frequently begins to decline when people reach their 70s, but those people that have been physically active throughout their lives tend to retain more efficient executive function than those who have lived sedentary lifestyles. The good news is that it is never too late to improve your brain function; studies have found that even people who only begin to exercise in their 60s and 70s still improve their brain’s executive function.
Regular exercise slows the age-related shrinkage of the frontal cortex, which is important for executive function. Exercise is also likely to increase the amount and efficiency of blood flow to the brain, therefore supplying more oxygen to the area. Exercise is also known to help the brain produce more of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF helps the brain to grow and develop, producing more brain cells. The exact way in which exercise benefits the brain is still not entirely understood, but what is not in question is that time after time studies have shown a positive correlation between exercise and brain function. With all the established physical benefits of exercise, added to these benefits on mental function, including exercise in your life is surely a no-brainer!
