Exercise is not only extremely beneficial for the health of our heart, but it is also excellent for our brain. In fact, exercise, in addition to being a great way to stay in shape and improve our mood, is also a natural way to improve our mood. protect our brain from cognitive decline associated with the years. . But after all, what’s the best exercise for the brain?
Not all types of exercise are equally beneficial for the brain, in this article we will see which is the best option based on the results of the latest scientific studies.
- In this sense.
- Several recent studies suggest that any type of exercise that raises heart rate and causes us to move and sweat for a long time (i.
- E.
- Aerobic exercise) has a significant and very beneficial impact on the brain.
In general, exercise changes the structure and functioning of the brain; Animal and human studies have shown that physical activity generally increases brain volume and can reduce the amount and size of age-related problems in the white and gray matter of the brain. , exercise increases adult neurogenesis, creating new neurons in an already mature brain.
Some of the benefits of exercise can already be enjoyed within a few minutes of starting exercise, while others, such as memory enhancement, can take several weeks to appear, meaning that the best type of brain fitness is any aerobic exercise that can be performed regularly. and consistently for at least 45 minutes.
A study of people with severe depression found that a 30-minute walk on a tape for 10 consecutive days was enough to produce a clinically relevant and statistically significant reduction in symptoms of depression.
Aerobic workouts can also help people who don’t suffer from clinical depression feel less stressed. According to a recent study presented in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science, what happens is a reduction in the level of natural stress hormones in the body, such as adrenaline. and cortisol.
In contrast, a study published in the British Journal shows that the best results for people over the age of 50 come from a combination of aerobic and endurance exercises, ranging from high-intensity interval training to yoga dynamics interspersed with strength exercises (weight or just body weight) or dance moves.
This research is also supported by another study, which, using a sample of adults between 60 and 88 years of age, found that walking for 30 minutes, four days a week for 12 weeks, seemed to improve synaptic activity in areas of the brain. likely to deteriorate over the years.
Still, researchers aren’t sure why brain function improves with exercise, specifically aerobics. Studies suggest that this is related to an increase in blood flow, which provides energy and oxygen to the brain, but this is not the only explanation.
In fact, we can all feel the effects that occur on our minds just by walking or doing some exercise after a day’s work. This walk, or any other form of exercise, makes us more lucid.
This feeling is not just something in our minds, research shows that we think and learn best when we do a certain type of exercise, it has been proven that when we exercise, there is an increase in blood flow throughout the body, including the brain. . This provides more energy and oxygen, allowing our brain to function better.
Another explanation for why sweating increases our mental capacity is that the hippocampus, a part of the brain essential for learning and memory, is very active during exercise. When neurons in this part of the brain accelerate, our cognitive function improves.
Finally, there is also a study in older women with possible symptoms of dementia, which shows that aerobic exercise is related to increased hippocampus size. According to researchers, anyone over the age of 50 should complete 45 minutes of exercise. aerobic exercise, 4 to 5 days a week, within the limits of each person’s physical possibilities.