Exercise is Good for the Brain
Exercise has a lot of benefits. We run to lose weight or reduce health risks. The book I am reading says, exercise also boost your brain power. How does exercise help boost memory and brain function. How much exercise do you need to help your memory?
The book Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School by John Medina
According to research, people who exercise performs better in tests that measures long-term memory, reasoning, attention, problem solving and fluid-intelligence tasks.
However, exercise has not shown to improve short term memory and reaction times which are not related to the exercise.
Most studies are done on the elderly. It shows that they benefit from exercise a lot. Exercise is use by some practitioners to treat age-related dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and even depression.
Initial studies also shows benefits for 35-55 years old and kids. But studies in these age groups are still very few.
How does exercise do these brain enhancing miracle? The books states that exercise increase blood flow in the body. An increase in blood flow means more nutrients gets in your system and more toxins are carried away from your body.
How much exercise do you need to get the benefits? It varies from person to person. But according to the books, most studies were done with this routine: Aerobic exercise for 30 minutes for 2-3 days per week. Cognitive performance was seen to improve within 12 weeks.
Jaime Medina ends the chapter with some radical ideas to help the general population. He recommends having recess periods twice a day and having treadmills installed in classrooms and offices.
Two recess in a day is a cheaper option. Suggest that to your teacher or boss. 😀
About The Author
ManokanRunner
Jinoe Gavan is the founder of this award-winning blog Takbo.ph, The Filipino Running Community. Known as ManokanRunner, he is a computer addict on weekdays, a church leader on weekends and a runner in all days of the week. He wants to run and cover as many miles in many places as he could. Read more about his life in the urban jungle with all the distractions and the fun of raising his son in DaddyandtheCity(dot)com.
I think this affects elderly because they have more time to think about their life, events and memory than focusing their mind on aching back, legs, or any aching part of their body.
thus keeping their body in shape prevent those and get their mind to where it should be doing.
That is just what i think..thanks.