Exercise affects the brain in many ways. It increases heart rate, which pumps more oxygen to the brain. It aids the release of hormones which provide an excellent environment for the growth of brain cells.
Research from UCLA even demonstrated that exercise increased growth factors in the brain which makes it easier for the brain to grow new neuronal connections.
From a more feel-good perspective, the same antidepressant-like effects associated with the “runner’s high” has been correlated with a drop in stress hormones.
Exercise helps memory and thinking through both direct and indirect means.
The benefits of exercise come directly from its ability to reduce insulin resistance, reduce inflammation, and stimulate the release of growth factors-chemicals in the brain that affect the health of brain cells, the growth of new blood vessels in the brain, and even the abundance and survival of new brain cells. Indirectly, exercise improves mood and sleep, and reduces stress and anxiety.
“Even more exciting is the finding that engaging in a program of REGULAR EXERCISE of moderate intensity over 6 months or a year is associated with an increase in the volume of selected brain regions,” says Dr. Scott McGinnis, a neurologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and an instructor in neurology at Harvard Medical School.
Resources: www.scientificamerican.com
Resources: www.health.harvard.edu
