Have you ever felt energized and more alert after a workout?  Exercise and physical activity can improve brain health and brain functions like memory and cognition.  Benefits can be felt immediately following a workout. These benefits also support brain health in the long-term. Research finds exercise is one element that boosts brain health.

Aerobic exercise, which increases oxygen levels is beneficial for brain health.  Dr Wendy Suzuki Professor of Neural Science and Psychology at New York University has done extensive research and says that every drop of sweat we produce can improve brain function.  She quotes a study of 65-year-olds. This group walked a minimum of 3 times a week resulting in a 30% drop in developing dementia.  The longer you engage in physical activity, the longer you can put off dementia. Regular exercise releases chemicals in the brain that help to grow new cells.

Powerful Tools

There are other powerful tools that contribute to a healthy brain.

• Aerobic activity that gets your heart rate up- avoid sedimentary behavior
• Good night’s sleep of 7-9 hours- do not become sleep deprived
• Healthy eating with natural, colorful foods- stay away from highly processed foods
• Develop special connections and relationships- humans are social creatures
• Avoid alcohol/drugs/smoking- these habits are not good for the brain or physical health
• Continue learning- there are 4 components that make memory stick
  • Repetition- do it over and over
  • Emotion- connect it to a feeling (elated, scared, anxious, happy)
  • Association- attach it to a special shirt, favorite pie, room in the house
  • Novelty- special recall the first time you did something

There are numerous benefits from exercise and brain health can be added to the list.  All of these gains are important and can provide motivation to get up and get going/moving/walking/running/dancing/swimming/biking/etc. It is valuable to know that research finds exercise is one element that boosts brain health.