7 Reasons Your Brain Needs
We all know that exercise has many benefits. However, there is one benefit that is truly fascinating and that is how exercise profoundly impacts our brain and nervous system. Neuroscience news has recently featured an article about this and we’re eager to share it with you! Here are our takeaways from the article:
1. Exercise helps create new neurons.
Exercise stimulates neurogenesis which basically means the creation of new neurons in the brain. This happens primarily in the hippocampus. It influences memory and learning while increasing key mood-regulating neurotransmitters. It also enhances brain plasticity, essential for recovery from injury and aging, and improves cognitive functions such as attention and memory.
2. Exercise improves memory and brain function.
Regular aerobic exercise can increase the size of the hippocampus and preserve vital brain matter, therefore improving spatial memory and cognitive function. But wait, what does spatial memory mean? Spatial memory allows you to remember where things are. spatial memory is one of the first types of memory that shows deficits in conditions like Alzheimer’s, stroke, aging, stress. Here are some examples of this type of memory:
• Remembering where your car keys are
• Remembering where the grocery store is and how to get there from your home
• Remembering your route to work
Aerobic exercise not only stimulates neurogenesis but also increases the size of the anterior hippocampus, leading to improved spatial memory.
3. Exercise helps us sleep better.
We all know how important getting enough sleep is. But quality is also important. Regular physical activity also improves sleep quality, a critical factor in brain health. Enhanced sleep quality allows for better memory consolidation and more efficient toxin removal from the brain. Exercise is known to improve overall sleep quality by reducing the amount of time it takes to fall asleep and increasing the power of brain waves during slow-wave sleep (SWS), also known as deep sleep.
4. Exercise helps the brain’s ability to heal itself.
Physical activity promotes brain plasticity, the brain’s ability to adapt and form new neural connections throughout life. This is especially important for recovery from a brain injury and counteracting the cognitive decline associated with aging.
5. Exercise enhances the brain’s functions.
Exercise can enhance various cognitive functions, including attention, working memory, executive function, and cognitive flexibility. The prefrontal cortex, a brain area responsible for these functions, appears to respond positively to physical exercise, likely due to the increased blood flow, which delivers more oxygen and nutrients to the brain.
6. Exercise can relieve stress.
Exercise also helps manage and reduce stress, increasing concentrations of norepinephrine and endorphins, chemicals that moderate the brain’s response to stress and induce feelings of happiness.
7. Exercise reduces inflammation.
The benefits of fitness extend beyond the brain. Regular physical activity reduces inflammation in the body, which can positively impact the brain as chronic inflammation is tied to various neurological conditions, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Although there is still much to explore in the neuroscience of fitness, current evidence strongly supports that regular physical activity has remarkable benefits for brain health and cognitive function, underscoring the value of integrating regular exercise into our daily lives for physical and mental health benefits.
One of the main pillars in RISE is fitness which we incorporate in our coaching programs. Come join us and start training your mind, body, and brain!
