For some of us, the past several months have been a blur of tv binging and too much sitting. While our anxieties have been high, our brains (and our butts) may have been idle. So just in time, new research has been published that demonstrates the importance of aerobic exercise for better brain health and the potential value of such exercise for enhancing memory and improving cognition. 

First, out of the University of Calgary, and published in the journal Neurology comes a study that examined the effects of vigorous, aerobic exercise on such aspects of brain health as verbal fluency and executive function. The researchers found that with just 6 months of aerobic exercise, the brains of older adults showed better blood flow to various regions of the brain connected with traits such as memory and mental sharpness. As one expert from the American Academy of Neurology exclaimed, “Older adults, even couch potatoes, may perform better on certain thinking and memory tests after just six months of aerobic exercise.” 

In addition, new research out of UT Southwestern Medical Center, and published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, looked at what happens in regions of the brain associated with memory and cognition after 12 months of aerobic exercise training, among adults 60 years old and older. With a control group only engaging in stretching routines, the exercise group showed a 47% improvement in memory over the control group and documented a boost in cerebral blood flow that even helped those already suffering from memory problems. This research is considered important as it reflects improvements through exercise in adults at high risk of developing Alzheimer’s. So strap on some sneakers and read more here.

And for some helpful resources for engaging in exercise, regardless of your current shape, look here. Finally, for some additional easy activities beyond exercise to boost your brain health, clear your mind and click here.