Exercise and the Mind-the Benefits May Suprise You!

While the idea that exercise is more beneficial than just physical exercise is nothing new, a recent Newsweek article shed light on some on the recent conclusions scientists have reached.

Although the common stereotype of 'dumb jock' is still a strong bias held by many, the latest research shows that jocks are proving to be anything but dumb.
Ask any high school guidance counselor and they'll be the first to tell you that the student athletes also tend to be the scholars.

While many assume that the high grades are due to an athlete's discipline and fear of being kept from playing sports, there is much more to the story. Student athletes tend to perform higher academically, mainly because their physical bodies are a bit healthier.

Exercise is known for allowing the heart to pump oxygen to the brain. In turn, the brain is more alert. Not only does the oxygen allow for clearer thinking, there are other direct results of exercise on the mind.

For example, neuron connections are increased due to the amount of oxygen in the brain. Retention is improved, and people who exercise regularly are more likely to perform higher on academic type evaluations.

Whether or not exercise can actually make you smarter is something that has been debated throughout the past several centuries. However, the ancient Greek Athletes were also known for being the most brilliant of their time.

According to a recent Newsweek article, exercise not only prevents heart disease. It is also linked to boosting brainpower and may help prevent Alzheimer's.

One study, performed by a Professor of Neuroscience and kinesiology at the University of Illinois, proved that there was a direct link between brain and brawn. Elementary students were tested in the classic PE routines; sit and reach pushups, etc. The same students' scores were compared with their statewide standardized tests. The tests included factors such as socioeconomic status.

The result of the studies proved that the most physically healthy students, tended to perform the highest on standardized test scores.

The study is not proof enough to stand alone; however, it has caused several other similar studies to be initiated.

Another recent research project involved growing new nerve cells through a three-month aerobic-workout regimen. Other scientific studies have shown that vigorous exercise can cause older nerve cells to form dense, interconnected webs that make the brain run faster and more efficiently.

Indeed, physical activity can even stave off Alzheimer's disease, ADHD and other cognitive disorders. Apparently, a strong, active body is essential for building a strong, active mind.

Currently, researchers are discovering that there is much more to the effect of exercise on the mind. The process begins in the muscles. Every time a bicep or quad contracts and releases, it sends out chemicals that travel through the bloodstream, across the blood-brain barrier and into the brain itself. The chemicals then increase the production of several chemicals, including one called brain-derived neurotrophic factor. This chemical is especially good at increasing higher thought.

Exercise has even proven to make rats smarter. A recent experiment proved that rats that were on a regular exercise routine were able to work their way through a maze much more quickly and efficiently than rats who had not been active.

Most people maintain a fairly consistent amount of brainpower produced by brain-derived neurotrophic factor or BDNF throughout their adulthood. However, as we age, neurons start to die off. Fortunately, the loss of neurons does not need to be permanent.

Neurogenesis, or the growth of new neurons, can be easily induced with adequate exercise. Also, not only can exercise slow down the age process, according to Arthur Kramer.

While the benefits of exercise are still being explored, it is important to realize that having a fit and active mind is often a direct result of having a fit and active body.