© Shutterstock

Dr. Wendy Suzuki -

Neuroscientist Dr. Wendy Suzuki claims that exercise is the single most transformative thing you can do for your brain.

© Getty Images 

The brain - The brain is the most complex structure known to human kind.

© Shutterstock

The brain -

The hippocampus is the part of the brain that allows you to form and retain memories.

© iStock

The brain -

The pre-frontal cortex is the part of the brain responsible for decision making, focus, attention, and personality.

© Shutterstock

Her story -

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.

© Getty Images 

Her story -

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.

© Shutterstock

Her story - She decided to make a big change and began trying out every workout class at the gym.

© Shutterstock

Her story -

She experienced a great boost in mood and energy after every class, which kept her going back.

© iStock

Her story -

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.

© iStock

Her story - She felt more focused and attentive at work, and her long-term memory seemed stronger.

© Shutterstock

Research -

She began to research the effects of exercise on the brain, and discovered a growing area of research.

© iStock

Research -

She was amazed at how powerful exercise was, and decided to make it the focus of her work.

© iStock

Results - She discovered that a single workout will immediately increase levels of dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenaline. This is what causes the improvement in mood.

© iStock

Results -

A single workout can significantly increase your focus and attention afterwards. Those effects can last for up to two hours.

© Shutterstock

Results -

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!

© Shutterstock

Results -

Those are the immediate upsides of exercising, but you can get the really important, long lasting benefits by exercising regularly.

© Shutterstock

Results - This is because consistent physical activity can change the anatomy, physiology, and functioning of the brain.

© iStock

Results - For example, exercise causes the creation of new brain cells in the hippocampus! That improves your long-term memory.

© iStock

Results - It can also provide long-term improvements to your focus and attention by expanding the pre-frontal cortex.

© iStock

Results -

The most amazing service exercise provides to your brain is protection.

© iStock

Results - Those two areas of your brain, the hippocampus and the pre-frontal cortex, are the most susceptible to degenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer's.

© Shutterstock

Results - While exercise doesn't make you immune to these diseases, it does delay and reduce the effects.

© Shutterstock

Results -

Physical activity will help you build a strong brain that can fight off the symptoms for a long time.

© Shutterstock

Exercise - Naturally, the question everyone asks is: what's the minimum amount of exercise I need to do to get these benefits?

© iStock

Exercise - The rule of thumb is that you need to exercise three to four times per week for a minimum of 30 minutes each time.

© iStock

Exercise - It's essential to get aerobic exercise. You want a raised heart rate and a little bit of sweat!

© iStock

Exercise - It doesn't need to be expensive or time-consuming. Go for a power walk, take the stairs more often, or dance around the house while cleaning and belting Tina Turner!

© Shutterstock

Exercise - Dr. Suzuki is working on building exercise 'prescriptions' for individuals based on their age, lifestyle, health, and genetic background.

© iStock

Exercise - She believes this will maximize the benefits we can get from exercise today, as well as providing the best protection and functioning for our brains in the future.

© Shutterstock

Exercise -

As if we needed another reason to exercise... No more excuses! Here are some ideas to start working out at home.

© iStock