Physical Exercise for Brain Health

Physical exercise, especially aerobic exercise, helps your brain stay sharp. Like other muscles in the body, you “use it or you lose it.”  Briefly exercising for twenty minutes facilitates information processing and memory functions. Exercising pumps more oxygen to the brain, and helps to release hormones which in turn help to promote brain cell growth. Exercising makes it easier for the brain to grow new neuronal connections and stimulates brain plasticity. Research indicates that the best brain health workouts integrate different parts of the brain such as coordination, strategy, and rhythm. Any exercise that is good for the heart is good for the brain. Aerobic exercise improves brain function and also helps repair damaged brain cells. “Exercising in the morning before going to work not only spikes brain activity and prepares you for mental stresses for the rest of the day, but also produces increases in retention of new information, and better reaction to complex situations.”  Circuit work outs spike your heart rate but also constantly redirect your attention and jumping jacks are a great brain improvement exercise.  Read article