Knowledge is power

Last week, I reviewed Lumosity which is a new website designed for training your brain. Scientists are finding, however, that there is more than these specialized exercises that you can do to improve your cognitive abilities. New research reported in the June/July issue of Scientific American Mind describes new evidence that exercise helps generate new brain cells and improve memory.

Researchers at Columbia University and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in San Diego studied the brains of mice before and after exercise to discover that exercise causes the formation of new neurons in the brain. Recent work has revealed that the same may also hold true for humans. In fact, when the scientists studied MRI scans of active and inactive (known as couch potatoes) people, they found that the former exhibited a higher blood flow in the dentate gyrus part of the brain indicating the generation of new neurons. As a result, the subjects with the more active lifestyle performed better at cognitive tests showing improved memory.

In other words, science is proving that the ancient Greek motto of “a healthy brain in a healthy body” stands true. What are you doing seating on your ass reading this blog? Go outside and get some exercise, now!