A healthy brain is essential to ensure your overall health. It supports your ability to make decisions, solve problems, and live a productive life. Want to take care of this most precious organ of your body? Then, daily exercise is a must. Regular exercise supports energy levels and boosts your mood. In addition, it’s correlated with reducing the risk of many chronic illnesses. Exercise is any activity that moves your muscles and elevates your heart rate. We are not genetically designed to live an idle and sedentary life. Therefore, doing so can result in short and long-term consequences.
Before knowing about 10 benefits of exercise on the brain, let’s take a quick look at how exercise impacts our brain.
How Does Exercise Impact Your Brain?
Exercise is the most effective way of improving your brain in terms of learning, Memory, and mood. Even some simple movement for 10 minutes a day may improve your brain’s performance. Want to know how? Stay tuned!
Changes In Brain Chemistry
Exercise benefits our brain in several ways. The secret behind it is that exercise causes changes in our brain chemistry. Brain chemistry is the total of all chemical reactions happening in the brain. Specifically, it involves neurotransmitters and hormones, including serotonin, endorphins, dopamine, and oxytocin. By positively influencing these chemicals, exercise helps our brain perform daily functions like movements, speaking, listening, thinking, and many more.
Changes In Growth Factors
Exercise induces growth factors in our brains. These are naturally produced protein-based active molecules affecting the growth of cells. Moreover, growth factors work at making new brain cells and setting up new connections between them. Besides brain cell growth, exercise helps in cell differentiation and wound healing. New and modified brain cells work more actively than the aged ones.
Changes In Brain Plasticity
Exercise also helps the production of neurotrophins, leading to improved brain plasticity. Neuroplasticity, or Brain Plasticity, is the nervous system’s power to change its functions in response to internal or external stimulation. Better brain plasticity is followed by better learning power and sharp memory forming. Now that you know how exercise impacts your brain, read on to learn 10 benefits of exercise on the brain.
10 Benefits Of Exercise On The Brain
There are several brain benefits of exercise. Cognitive health is provenly enhanced by exercise. Any exercise that accelerates your blood flow and heart rate is directly related to brain performance. Apart from that, exercise improves your breathing, which sends more oxygen to your brain cells. Oxygen helps the production of neurons that assist in shaping memory and thinking ability. Moreover, increased brain volume is believed to delay the effects of dementia. So, without further delay, let’s unlock the 10 benefits of exercise on the brain together.
Uplifts Mood
Can you imagine exercise can boost your mood, too? Physical exercise is a great mood lifter. Apart from relieving stress and tension, exercise improves mood. Exercise promotes the secretion of mood-lifting brain chemicals called serotonin and endorphins. Moreover, it improves your sense of self-control and emotion-managing capacity.
Enhances Concentration
Are you having difficulty concentrating on a specific task? Are you easily distracted by the environment? Then, you’ll be happy to know that exercise enhances the ability to focus on a particular task, avoiding distractions. In addition, it helps to retain and handle information better. Aerobic exercises boost attention retention and are essential for people of all ages. Research shows that students who complete moderate physical exercise before class perform better on tests than those who have been inactive.
Improves Mental Health
The feeling of excitement that you experience after exercise is real and can be used as a substitute for stress reliever medications. A 2022 study indicates the significance of exercise as a complementary therapy for patients with mental illness. Aerobic exercise, along with yoga and meditation, initiates a noticeable decline in the amygdala, which is the part of the brain that controls fear, mental stress, and anxiety. What’s more, your brain may decrease in size without proper use and get harmed by stress and depression. Exercise produces neurochemicals that reverse such damage.
Reduces Cognitive Decline
Cognitive decline is the loss of thinking abilities, including remembering, learning, reasoning, and paying attention. People with mild cognitive disability can benefit from resistance training with better attention, orientation, Memory, thinking ability, and verbal fluency. Physical exercise slows down the occurrence of mental wear and tear. Investing time in exercise at a young age will pay you later in life with a low cognitive decline rate.
Protects From Age-Related Brain Diseases
Are you living a sedentary life? You’ll be shocked to know the after-effects! Alzheimer’s, the most common form of dementia, is associated with a sedentary lifestyle. On the other hand, people living an active life have a lower chance of these diseases. Exercise encourages brain cell growth and life span, which can help to lessen the risk of experiencing dementia. A study published in Neurology says that women being physically active in their middle ages are 88% less likely to fall victim to dementia than other women of their age who were inactive.
Improves Decision-Making Skills
In our day-to-day lives, we often need clarification about making the proper and timely decision, which can be exhausting and overwhelming. Exercising assists in circulating your energy and focus. Exercise can also freshen up and recharge your mindset. When you keep moving, your heart and breathing rate are accelerated, and your blood runs faster in the veins. It helps you focus on what you’re currently doing, not on things you must complete or a list of worries.
Boosts Memory
Studies show that brain structure grows effectively after exercise. The hippocampus is a susceptible part of the brain that plays a role in memory building and is essential for learning abilities. Dr. Scott M. Mcginnis, a neurology expert from Harvard Medical School, has come up with an exciting finding. He found that following a regular exercise of moderate intensity for six months increases the volume of some brain regions. Also, Exercise aids in Memory indirectly with improved mood and sleep.
Upgrades Multitasking And Planning Ability
Who doesn’t need multitasking in today’s busy life? Have you ever guessed exercise can even help with multitasking ability? Let me tell you how. People who combine low to moderate exercise in their daily routine have greater brain stimulation in the frontal lobe. The frontal lobes are the most prominent in the human brain and are responsible for directing higher-level executive functions. Organizing, planning, and remembering detailed information are some executive functions.
Aids In Growth Of New Nerves And Blood Vessels
Exercise promotes blood flow to the brain. Increased blood flow induces the growth of new blood vessels that send blood to each nerve cell. This process is called angiogenesis. And if nerve cells get more blood, more new nerve cells are produced, a process known as neurogenesis. New nerve cells deliver better brain function, improving our quality of life.
Builds Social Relationships
Lastly, if you exercise at a gym or participate in a sport, you’ll naturally get in touch with people and develop new relationships. The social aspect can make exercise more enjoyable and keep you motivated. This feeling of togetherness sends a positive signal to your brain. In fact, research has shown that walking programs for old citizens lead to new social connections. This sense of connectivity is vital for personal well-being.
How To Opt For The Best Exercise For Your Brain
If you’ve read this far, you already know well about the 10 benefits of exercise on the brain. While some exercise for hours daily, others might only spend a few minutes.
Knowing the right amount of exercise a person needs depends on his health condition and personal goals. Do you need clarification about choosing the best exercise for your brain? Here, I’ll mention some options for you.
Heart Rate Lifting Exercise
You can choose an exercise that is good for your heart; the exercise that is good for your heart certainly will benefit your brain. So it’s a win-win for you. Heart rate lifting
exercises may include :
Walking
Walking is my favorite form of exercise. When you start walking, it can become yours, too! Countless scientific research shows walking as a medicine for your brain. As walking reduces stress levels, it helps in keeping brain damage far away from you.
Swimming
It the best form of whole body workout, can support a healthy and positive brain. Swimming induces the release of serotonin, which is like depression medicine and food for a happy mood.
Running And Jogging
Do you also run like me to make up for that extra scoop of ice cream? Then you’ll be amazed to know that you’re not only shedding pounds here but also serving your brain!
Running and jogging can produce new brain cells and improve the brain’s overall performance.
Cycling
Apart from building your muscles, cycling can make your brain grow. Cycling encourages blood flow to the brain and sends more oxygen and necessary nutrients to benefit brain performance.
Aerobic Exercise
Aerobic exercise is best for enhanced brain function and promotes cell repair. Moreover, this is a physical activity of low to high intensity. Here are some you can do at home, even without any equipment.
Stair Climbing
If I have to tell you about one easy exercise without requiring any equipment, it’ll be stair climbing. Stair climbing improves cognitive performance and brain health. A study found in the Neurobiology of Aging journal showed that the more stairs a person climbs, the “younger” the brain stays.
Lunges
Lunges are resistance and strength training exercises that improve overall health performance. It doesn’t require any equipment. Lunges help to retain balance, stability, and coordination of the brain.
Push Ups And Jumping Jacks
Push-ups and jumping jacks are both equipment strength-building exercises. Jumping jacks are packed with brain-stimulating ability and power. It lets your heart pump quicker to supply blood to the brain. So what are you waiting for? Jump those jacks and boost your brain!
Sports
Sports are a good option for physical exercise. While participating in any sport, the brain receives better oxygen, which helps improve skill and knowledge building. Sport induces the production of proteins that are functional for brain development.
Yoga And Meditation
Though yoga and meditation focus on spiritual benefits, they have tremendous health and brain benefits. Yoga poses and postures increase flexibility, strength, and balance. It focuses on breathing and relaxation, which helps to lower depression and anxiety. On top of that, yoga enhances mental clarity and sharpens focus.
Brain-Friendly Exercise For Different Age Groups
If You feel mentally drained, short-length exercise may be a quick fix. This will keep the blood flowing to the brain and raise oxygen intake. This may include a short walk or some jumping jacks. The best time for exercise to benefit the brain is early morning. Morning exercise accelerates brain activity and improves memory and decision-making skills throughout the day. Now, the question arises of how much exercise you need for your brain improvement. Dividing it into requirements of different age groups must be easier to understand.
Exercise For Preschoolers (3-5 Years )
Children of this age are already super active, aren’t they? They are recommended to stay active throughout the day. Caregivers will engage in creative play that requires physical activity. Also, the preschool curriculum should include enough brain-boosting physical exercise in different forms of the game. The hippocampus is found to be larger in kids who exercise than in ones who are sedentary. Not only brain volume but also exercise helps with Memory and learning.
Exercise For Children and Adolescents (6-17 Years )
You also desire better focus, productive behaviour and praiseworthy academics for your child. All these depend on the strength of brain connectivity. Current Physical activity guidelines for Americans suggest 60 minutes of exercise each day for this age group. School-based physical exercise may fulfill this requirement quickly. All kinds of outdoor and indoor sports, running, swimming, cycling, dancing, and jumping jacks are kid-friendly exercises.
Exercise For Adults (18-64 Years)
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that adults do 150 minutes of moderate-intensity cardiorespiratory exercise each week. Sounds like a lot, huh! The trick here is to break it into smaller portions of time. Again, sports, free hand exercise, treadmill, gym activities, jogging, swimming, aerobics, cardio, and zumba are all good options.
Exercise For Older Ones (65 Years And More)
When you’re an older adult, regular physical exercise gets more critical. Our brain cells tend to reduce in number with age. Exercise generates blood flow to the brain and the production of cell-regenerating hormones in the brain. At least 150 minutes of moderate activity is suggested for this age group. Again, brisk walking, jogging, running, swimming, aerobics, and cardiovascular exercises are your age-friendly ones. But always remember that everyone’s health conditions and fitness levels are different.
Exercise For People With Chronic Illness And Disabilities
Exercise helps people with chronic illness and physical disabilities, like people with diabetes, stroke, spinal injury, osteoarthritis, and cancer survivors. Other brain diseases like Parkinson’s disease, dementia, and other cognitive issues can be kept under control with regular physical exercise. At least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise is recommended.
If you have these issues, your healthcare provider will make the appropriate exercise routine according to your health conditions.
Exercise For Pregnant And New Mothers
Last but not least, pregnant women need regular physical exercise and proper rest. Moderate-intensity physical exercise like brisk walking and aerobics keeps you healthy during pregnancy and postpartum. Exercise ensures the balance of hormones needed for brain health and mental well-being, which is very important in this stage of life. Before jump-starting any exercise, consult your healthcare provider about how you can incorporate exercise into your daily routine.
Takeaway
Physical and brain health walk hand-in-hand. The health benefits resulting from exercise are considerable and radical. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adds superbly: Move more, sit less, and see wonders happening! That’s all you need to know about the 10 benefits of exercise on the brain. So you can start right away! Incorporate the exercise of your choice into your routine and take control of your overall health and emotional well-being.
FAQ
Can Exercise Work On Depression Management?
As exercise can improve a person’s mood and mental well-being, it can also do wonders in depression management. Outdoor activities are recommended in this case, as exposure to sunlight ensures enough vitamin D absorption, which is linked to a better mood and depression-free life.
Does Exercise Have Any Impact On Sleeping Disorders?
Exercise improves the quality of sleep and mood. It lessens sleep complaints and insomnia in patients. Aerobic exercise has similar effects as sleeping pills for people suffering from unusual sleeping patterns.
How Can I Incorporate Exercise In My Desk Job?
If your job demands that you sit at a desk eight hours each day, taking a break from that sedentary time is necessary. Five minutes of walking and stretching per hour is enough to check the effects of prolonged sitting and positively impact a person’s brain.