Exercise is not just about aerobic capacity and muscle size. People who exercise regularly tend to do so because it gives them an enormous sense of well-being. They have sharper memories, feel more relaxed and positive about themselves and their lives. A wave of studies exploring the links between mental and bodily fitness is emerging. Exercise can prepare you for mental challenges such as exams, interviews and other projects.

Exercise can also have a more immediate impact on memory formation. German researchers showed that walking or cycling during, but not before, learning sessions helped new foreign language vocabulary to stick. So try exercising while you revise! However, don’t push it too hard. Vigorous workouts can raise your stress levels, which can short circuit your memory function.

There are plenty of reasons to be physically active. One of them applies to those of us who are experiencing brain fog that comes with too much stress in our lives or age. Scientists studying aerobic fitness have found a link between fitness and a brain region called the entorhinal cortex, which is associated with memory function. Exercise also changes the brain in ways that protect memory and thinking skills. In one study done by University of British Columbia, researchers found that regular aerobic exercise boosts the size of the hippocampus. The hippocampus is the area of the brain which is involved in learning and verbal memory. Experiments in children, adults and elderly show that this brain structure grows as people get fitter.

Research also shows that one new case of dementia is detected every 4 seconds globally. In 2050 it is estimated that more than 115 million people will suffer with dementia around the world. Research shows that mild cognitive impairment is also a recognized risk factor for increasing dementia. Seniors with the condition can develop Alzheimer’s disease at much higher rates than those with sharper memories.

In addition, the benefits of exercise include its ability to reduce insulin resistance and stimulate the release of growth factors. Growths factors are chemicals in the brain that affect the health of brain cells, the growth of new blood vessels in the brain and the survival of new brain cells.

Regular exercise also helps to reduce stress and anxiety which frequently contribute to cognitive impairment.  Theresa Liu-Ambrose, an associate professor in the Brain Research Center at the University of British Columbia suggests that it is advisable to incorporate aerobic and resistance training. She believes that each type or exercise selectively targets different aspects of cognition. It probably sparkles the release of different proteins in the body and brain.

Researchers are still teasing out the critical factors that make exercise such a potent brain tonic. Prime suspects include increased blood flow to the brain, surges of growth hormones and expansion of the brain’s network of blood vessels. It is also possible that exercise stimulates the birth of new neurons.

So start exercising with one of our trainers and Cheetahfit Training and Massage Center! Our trainers are highly skilled and will design a workout that fits your individual needs. Whatever exercise you do, commit to establishing a habit. After all, they say that exercise is medicine!