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Growing evidence shows that aerobic exercise can improve cognitive function and offset some of the declines seen in aging. Numerous studies have found that people who engage in regular physical activity show improved learning, improved memory, and a reduced risk of developing dementia. Physical activity might even slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and higher levels of physical activity have been linked to improvements in some markers of structural brain health, such as reduced cortical thinning and less shrinkage in the hippocampus.
Exercise exerts its neuroprotective effects in the brain by improving neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to form and reorganize connections between neurons in response to changes in behavior and environment. Scientists also believe that exercise increases neurogenesis (the formation of new nerve cells) which, in turn, enhances neuroplasticity. Evidence from rodent studies confirms that exercise increases neurogenesis: older mice allowed to run on a wheel have higher rates of neurogenesis in the hippocampus than sedentary mice, and they perform better on learning and memory tests. Exercise can also improve blood flow and increase production of neurotrophic factors that support new neurons and synapses. For humans, starting exercise later in life can be beneficial, but the studies suggest that adopting an exercise program earlier in life could yield even more neuroprotective benefits.
Available at: https://www.brainfacts.org/the-brain-facts-book. Accessed on: Feb. 21, 2022.
According to the text, exercise has been shown to
