With the health level of United States’ citizens declining, it is important to promote exercise for the health benefits. Many individuals are aware of the physical benefits that result from exercise, but throughout the lifespan, mental benefits can also occur 1. Roig, Skriver, Lundbye-Jensen, Kiens, and Nielsenexplain, “regular aerobic exercise, in particular, produces moderate yet robust improvements in the performance of some cognitive tasks, especially in those involving attention, processing speed, and executive function”2. While it is better for individuals to begin exercising during childhood, the cognitive benefits can occur later in life, even benefiting the elderly population. Neuroimaging on human subjects has shown that exercise can improve brain function1.
Hillman, Erickson, and Kramer state that ”lifestyle factors” which can benefit elderly adults are “intellectual engagement, social interaction, diet and physical activity—[and these] are associated with the maintenance of cognitive function and reduction in risk for age-associated neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia”1. Exercise is an important part of overall health, including healthy brain function. Physical activity supports cognition and this phenomenon is supported through research “at the molecular, cellular, behavioral and systems levels”1. Engaging in an exercise program will not only help with physical strength, but exercise can restore cognition and improve neural function1. It is never too late to begin exercise to help brain function, but the sooner one starts, the better the results will be.
1Hillman, C. H., Erickson, K. I., & Kramer, A. F. (2008). Be smart, exercise your heart: exercise effects on brain and cognition. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 9(1), 58-65. doi:10.1038/nrn2298
2Roig, M., Skriver, K., Lundbye-Jensen, J., Kiens, B., & Nielsen, J. (2012). A Single Bout of Exercise Improves Motor Memory. Plos ONE, 7(9), 1-8. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0044594
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