Exercise On The Brain : How Does Physical Activity Helps Our Brain And Mind? Essay

Participation in physical activity has been shown to have many health benefits for older adults; this study does not provide strong support that it protects against cognitive decline. Reports have been made that physical activity may help guard against stroke and coronary heart disease, both of which may be associated with the development of dementia. Some studies were either limited in their scope or had short follow-up times. In all they find that for older adults, physical activity alone may not protect against cognitive decline. (By Charnicia E. Huggins: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/exerciseforseniors.html)

Cavanaugh and Blanchard-Fields (2015) state that there is research showing how brain plasticity can be enhanced through aerobic exercise (p.51). It is important that adults be active in their lives. A 30-minute walk or some type of physical activity will benefit them as the age. The text mentions a study done by Erickson and his colleagues in 2009 where they studied the effect of aerobic exercise on the hippocampus. They found that due to aerobic exercise it produced greater volume in the hippocampus. This is significant because the hippocampus is the part of the brain that is responsible for memory, emotions, and spatial functioning. The body does not only need physical activities to produce healthier cognitive functioning but also nutrients. The text identifies three nutrient biomarker patterns that are significant on the aging brain. These nutrients are vitamin B, C,D, and E, omega-3, and trans fat. the foods that belong to these nutrients are beneficial to the brain. Older adults should make an effort to include these nutrients into their diets. positive impacts these nutrients make are better cognitive functioning and greater brain

This article is about the prevention of the Alzheimer’s risk. Alzheimer disease is also called senile dementia. It is a disease where people lost their memories. This research was done at UCLA Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh. The researchers gathered the participants to do experiment on whether the physical activities benefits to reduce the Alzheimer’s risk. According to the article, the outcome of the experiment showed that increase in physical activities related with larger brain volumes. “Individuals experiencing this brain benefit from increasing their physical activity experienced a 50% reduction in their risk of Alzheimer's dementia.” The researchers actually prove that if you increase your physical activity, then there is

Similarly, however, the brain benefits from lifting weights in general. In “Lifting Weights, Twice a Week, May Aid the Brain,” an article discussing the relativity of weight lifting on the brain, Gretchen Reynolds suggests that resistance training is important to delaying the vulnerability of the brain with time. Reynolds reviews statistics that support exercise in slowing the process of lesions in the brain of white matter (which is the material that connects and passes messages between different brain regions). Because time ultimately catches up with us, Reynolds contemplates the effect that lifting weights has on the brain, as it does the muscles of the body, in order to demonstrate that importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The article says that “a minimum threshold of exercise needs to be achieved” as a way to gain the attention of the older

There is ample evidence to demonstrate that through the normal ageing process alterations to the brain in structure and function are directly related to cognitive changes (Glisky, 2007). With an increasing ageing population strategies for prevention of disease and age related cognitive decline are necessary to improve quality of life and reduce the associated healthcare costs (Australian Government Productivity Commission [AGPC], 2013). Physical exercise is known to be crucial in maintaining physiological health; it can also be used as a means of neuroprotection and assist in modifiable risk factors for improved brain health and subsequent cognitive function. This review will critically analyse current research into the effects of exercise

In the past decade there has been increasing empirical research that examine cognitive training and the connection it has to stave off or slow the progression of dementia. Dementia is considered a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, which influences neural pruning within the brain structures of elderly individuals, leading to the decrease of cognitive abilities (Alzheimer´s Association Report, 2013); the onset of dementia can occur years before the diagnosis, therefore significant damage can have already occurred within the brain neural pathways (Blennow et al, 2006). Early prevention and reducing further progression of neural degeneration; involves the intervention of cognitive training and mental exercises; which can inhibit neuropathological

You CAN grow younger and one of the best anti-aging action steps is exercise. But 'use it or lose it' doesn't apply only to muscle fitness or sex. It also applies to the brain.

“If it’s safe for you, engage in cardiovascular exercise to elevate your heart rate. This will increase the blood flow to your brain and body, providing additional nourishment while reducing potential dementia risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol” (Alzheimer's Association 1). There have been many claims about exercise being correlated to better work and brain productivity. To prove these claims, one must perform an experiment through the scientific method. In this particular instance, the scientific method starts with one asking the question, “Do people who exercise have better brain performance than those who don’t?” Afterwards, a hypothesis is made. One theory states that there is a strong correlation between

A study in 2001 showed slowed rates of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. When young and old people were tested, the brains of older people who exercised functioned as well as the brains of young people who did not exercise. In older women, walking also slows the rate of mental decline. Between 30 and 90, 15 to 25 percent of the brain tissue can be lost. Some losses are significant, such as the gray matter, which is associated with learning and memory. The natural deterioration of gray matter was much higher in older people who didn’t exercise versus those who did. Additionally, balance, muscles, and joints tend to function at a less higher level than in previous years without

As age increases, we can expect some loss of heart, lung, joint, and sexual functioning. Some loss of brain cells and mental efficiency is a normal part of

In the study, the elderly individuals were randomized into two separate groups. The first group partook in an aerobic walking program and the control group participated in a stretching and toning class. Throughout the year, MRI’s were conducted to detect any changes in the brain systems functioning from a baseline MRI. The research found that the walking group showed a greater improvement in various areas of functioning, such as improving the brains connection networks.

The beginning and an end. The start and the finish. Once something begins, it will eventually come to an end. But, that true, does everything in the universe actually end? Numbers; a start with no finish. Numbers, something so simple, yet so complex. An infinite creation of the human mind subdued by our unmeasurable human intelligence. This is all capable due to the human brain. The brain is the most complex and unique organ in the human body. Some even considerable it a muscle. Similar to muscles, your brain can be trained and worked for better functionality. But, did you that there’s a direct connection between exercising and increased intelligence in humans? In this paper I will be backing up my statement that human intelligence can be increased due to exercise. I will also give a view on the opposite side, using research that hypothetically disproves the idea that human intelligence can be gained through exercise. Then, I will be evaluating my claim, backing up my point by applying reason, utilizing the four tests of an argument and taking advantage of my critical thinking skills to validate my claim. Lastly, I will be concluding and synthesizing my argument.

Physical Activity is undeniably good for everyone, not only does it keep you fit and healthy but when started at a young age, it can set up good habits for life. Sometimes however, people do not take care of their physical wellbeing, resulting in obesity and other eating disorders which can be detrimental to their health.

One of the most well-known facts in the field of health and psychology is that physical fitness indeed increases one’s mental activity and increases mental fitness. This fact has been proved through decades worth of careful and dedicated research on the “mind-body” connection that exists in human beings. However, while this might be an accepted fact, scholars these days are still being surprised with new discoveries, including how exercising affects the brain and how do these “benefits” happen to be. Perhaps one of the most common misconceptions about the brain is that it is a ‘muscle’ (Edlund, 2013). However, basic anatomy would show that despite containing a little bit of muscle, the brain is mostly composed of white and grey matters, which are responsible for the transmission of electrical impulses through a series of chemical reactions. From these series of transmissions, the electrical impulses become responsible for information transmission throughout the whole body (Godman, 2014). However, one of the more apparent differences here is that while muscle develops through physical exertion, the brain does not. And, being a well-known fact, this led to many people thinking that in order to improve one’s mental well-being, the best thing to do is to read books, engage in puzzles, and do things that would directly affect your brain. While this would certainly be beneficial, plenty of other factors (biological and psychological) could affect an individual’s perception and

The articles by Erikson et al., Gatz, Korol et al., and Draganski et al. explore the concept of increased physical activity and/or mental activity having effects on the cognitive function and development or deterioration of the brain as we age. Although I agree that physical exercise is critical in increasing cognitive function because of the health benefits it provides, as well as the increased blood flow and circulation throughout the body, I ultimately believe that a healthy brain is not achieved solely by physical exercise or mental exercise, but both. I think there is a link between physical and mental exercise, and that the combination of these two activities creates higher cognitive functioning of the mind as well as the body. The mind and body come together and meet to make an overall healthy individual.