Many of us don't think about our brains all that often. We're more likely to focus on immediate problems like a twisted ankle or a sinus infection. But if we stop to think about it, it's clear that investing in our brains is the best thing we can do for our futures. That sounds complicated, but it turns out it's easy!
It's the same solution as goes for the majority of modern health problems: exercise. Get moving regularly and you'll be thanking yourself when you're 85 and sharp as a tack. Click through the following gallery to learn all about it.
Neuroscientist Dr. Wendy Suzuki claims that exercise is the single most transformative thing you can do for your brain.
The hippocampus is the part of the brain that allows you to form and retain memories.
The pre-frontal cortex is the part of the brain responsible for decision making, focus, attention, and personality.
Dr. Suzuki began her journey to discovering the incredible ways exercise impacts these sections of the brain while she was working on a project related to memory.
She was working non-stop every day until she realized that she had no social life, was barely moving and therefore gaining weight, and was miserable.
She experienced a great boost in mood and energy after every class, which kept her going back.
As this exercise program became part of her routine, she felt healthier and stronger, but she noticed surprising benefits in other areas of her life.
She began to research the effects of exercise on the brain, and discovered a growing area of research.
She was amazed at how powerful exercise was, and decided to make it the focus of her work.
A single workout can significantly increase your focus and attention afterwards. Those effects can last for up to two hours.
A single workout also improves your reaction times. You might be able to catch that glass that got knocked off the counter before it hits the floor!
Those are the immediate upsides of exercising, but you can get the really important, long lasting benefits by exercising regularly.
The most amazing service exercise provides to your brain is protection.
Physical activity will help you build a strong brain that can fight off the symptoms for a long time.
As if we needed another reason to exercise... No more excuses! Here are some ideas to start working out at home.
The life-changing ways exercise modifies your brain
Physical activity can uplift your spirits, enhance your focus, and reduce dementia risk
HEALTH Neuroscience
Many of us don't think about our brains all that often. We're more likely to focus on immediate problems like a twisted ankle or a sinus infection. But if we stop to think about it, it's clear that investing in our brains is the best thing we can do for our futures. That sounds complicated, but it turns out it's easy!
It's the same solution as goes for the majority of modern health problems: exercise. Get moving regularly and you'll be thanking yourself when you're 85 and sharp as a tack. Click through the following gallery to learn all about it.