Hey Friends,
I hope this message finds you well.
In my quest to promote holistic wellness, I’m going to share some findings from recent research published by NCBI. It underscores the connection between physical exercise and cognitive function across all stages of life.
Here are some key takeaways:
Cognitive Enhancements Across Ages:
- Children and Adolescents: Physically active children who are physically active tend to have larger brain areas important for learning and memory, stronger connections in the brain, and overall better brain function.
- Adults: Moderate-intensity exercise enhances working memory and cognitive flexibility, while high-intensity workouts boost information processing speed.
- Older Adults: Aerobic fitness can mitigate age-related brain tissue loss and support the structural health of key brain areas involved in cognition and memory.
Exercise benefits cognition through various mechanisms:
- Increased cerebral blood flow.
- Elevated levels of growth factors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).
- Enhanced neurotransmitter release (dopamine and norepinephrine).
- Structural changes in the central nervous system, including increased hippocampal volume (hippocampus gets bigger).
Different activities impact cognitive function differently:
- Aerobic Exercise: Consistently benefits cognitive function.
- Resistance Training: Effective in improving certain cognitive aspects.
- Open-Skill Sports: Activities like martial arts and racquet sports may offer additional cognitive benefits due to their complex motor and cognitive demands.
Combining Exercise and Cognitive Training:
- Integrating physical activity with cognitive tasks, or combining physical exercise with cognitive training, shows promising results, especially in older adults.
- Neuroimaging studies have evidenced exercise-induced changes in brain structure and function, particularly in prefrontal areas associated with executive function.
The research clearly shows that exercise has a big positive impact on brain function, no matter your age. Staying active is a powerful and natural way to keep your mind sharp and healthy throughout your life.
Stay active, stay sharp!
Warm regards,
Collis Stutzer
CGS Fitness
www.cgsfitness.com