Many of us know that exercise is good for our body but aren’t aware of how exercise impacts our brain health. Exercise can boost your brain in several different ways:
1. EXERCISE IMPROVES YOUR THINKING SKILLS (COGNITION)
Your brain is an organ, and just like our hearts or lungs you can improve its performance through exercise, particularly thinking skills. Thinking skills (cognition) are mental processes our brain undertakes so we can take in information to learn, understand and interact with the world. This includes our ability to plan, focus, remember and problem solve. In fact, research shows that just 10-20 minutes of moderate intensity exercise (e.g. a brisk walk), can immediately show a positive effect on our thinking and focus. Research also shows those who exercise more regularly have better results in thinking tasks or in controlling certain behaviours (eating an entire block of chocolate, scrolling social media, managing alcohol or substance use).
2. EXERCISE IMPROVES MEMORY
Another skill that can be improved through exercise is our ability to remember and learn. These skills are important for work, study and in everyday life. It is thought that exercise improves the health of the hippocampus, a small brain area deep within the temporal lobes of the brain that plays a strong role in memory. Research shows exercising at a high intensity (e.g. going for a fast run) can increase the size of the hippocampus, increase the healthiness of the hippocampus cells and improve connections within the brain. These increases in hippocampus health are linked to improvements in learning and remembering.
3. EXERCISE REDUCES YOUR RISK OF BRAIN DISEASE
As you age, you are at a higher risk of developing brain-related disorders. The number of people in Australia living with significant disability is increasing, and over 70,000 people are diagnosed with brain-related disorders every year (e.g., stroke, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease). Exercise can reduce many risk factors associated with these conditions, including obesity, high blood pressure and more. In fact, studies have shown that engaging in physical activity regularly reduces the risk of developing a brain disorder by about 20-30%.
