Exercise Can Enhance Mental Performance at Any Age
It’s well-known that regular exercise benefits the entire body. It can enhance heart health, help build stronger bones and muscles, and can even lower the risk of some cancers. But what might surprise you is that getting active doesn’t just shape your body, it also sharpens your brain.
New research reveals that exercise isn’t just good for the body, but also is a key player in maintaining a sharp mind. Regular physical activity has been shown to enhance memory, improve cognitive skills, and strengthen decision-making, benefiting both healthy individuals and those with medical conditions. This highlights exercise as a powerful and inclusive way to support lifelong brain health.
An umbrella analysis of 133 systematic reviews, which included over 2,000 randomly selected controlled trials and 258,279 participants, revealed that low to moderate intensity exercise significantly enhances brain function and memory.
The study found the most substantial improvements in memory among children and adolescents, whereas individuals with ADHD experienced the greatest enhancements in executive function. Among the activities studied, yoga, Tai Chi, and active video games were identified as having the most pronounced cognitive advantages.
This research strongly supports the idea that people of all ages and fitness levels should incorporate exercise into their daily routines as a way to enhance cognitive health. It’s an uplifting insight, highlighting that even low-impact physical activities can have significant cognitive advantages.
To view the original scientific study click below:
Effectiveness of exercise for improving cognition, memory and executive function: a systematic umbrella review and meta-meta-analysis