Accordingly, physical activity, such as walking 4,000 steps a day, also increases the size of brain regions important for memory and learning, according to the science news site EurekAlert (USA).
Physical activity, even walking less than 4,000 steps a day, increases the size of brain regions important for memory and learning
The international study, which included a team of clinical researchers from the Pacific Neuroscience Institute's Brain Health Center at Providence Saint John's Health Center (USA), looked at the brain MRI scans of 10,125 participants.
The results showed that people who regularly participated in physical activities such as walking, jogging or playing sports had larger brain volumes in key areas. These areas included grey matter - which helps process information, and white matter - which connects different brain regions, as well as the hippocampus - which is important for memory.
“Our study supports previous studies showing that physical activity is good for the brain,” explains lead researcher Cyrus A. Raji, MD, PhD. “Exercise not only reduces the risk of dementia, but also helps maintain brain size, which is important as we age.”
Research highlights easy way to keep brain healthy is to stay active
Study co-author Dr. David Merrill, Associate Professor and Director of the Pacific Center for Brain Health, noted: We found that even moderate levels of physical activity, such as walking 4,000 or fewer steps per day, can have a positive impact on brain health.
This study highlights an easy way to keep your brain healthy: stay active. Whether it’s taking a daily walk or playing a favorite sport, regular physical activity can have long-term benefits for brain health.
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