28 Sep/Oct 2017 oxygenmag.com.au
Keep moving to
boost creativity,
improve memory
and be happy!E
xercise can keep the doctor away in more than
one way! Working out is a key component for losing
body fat and adding lean muscle, and scientists
are finding exciting new evidence that breaking a
sweat is also beneficial to the brain. Take a look at the latest
research on how fitness can help make you smarter and
happier.Increases Brain Power
Stanford University researchers found that even a low-
intensity walk at work increases creativity up to 60 per
cent. “One’s level of creativity is directly related to level of
mental alertness and capacity to make new connections and
learning,” explains Dr Pierce J. Howard, managing director of
research and development at the Centre for Applied Cognitive
Studies in Charlotte, North Carolina. “Aerobic exercise promotes
both these brain functions by oxygenating blood flow to the
brain, resulting in more fuel for brain activity and alertness.”
Having more innovative ideas translates to better
production in the workplace and even enhances our other
relationships. “Exercising is the perfect way to open up your
conscious mind to those back-burner ideas floating around
in your subconscious,” says Dr Keith Sawyer, associate
professor at Washington University and author of Zig Zag:
The Surprising Path to Greater Creativity (Jossey-Bass, 2013).
Taking a lunch-break stroll with co-workers may improve
company dynamics and ensure deadlines are met!Helps You Stay Sharp
The size of the hippocampus, a structure of the brain
involved with memory, usually decreases with age,
putting individuals at a higher risk for dementia. A study
done by psychologist Dr Kirk Erickson showed aerobic
exercise actually increased hippocampal volume by 2
per cent. Exercise sparks neurogenesis, a process during
which new brain cells are formed. “Our research over the
past two-plus years has found that older adults show a
number of benefits from exercise, including improvements
in attention, executive control and memory, as well as
healthier brains,” says Dr Art Kramer, director of the
Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology
at the University of Illinois. Make it a habit to include your
family members in your workout routine, especially the
older ones!Boosts Your Mood
Studies show exercise boosts those “feel good”
neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine, improving
mood and fatigue with longer duration exercise. “Plenty
of research shows that people who are physically active
report less depression, anxiety and fatigue and that these
benefits may help explain why they sleep better, too,” says
professor Dr Rodney K. Dishman, from the University of
Georgia. “Although there is no single effect of exercise on
the brain that explains the mental health benefits of
exercise, animal studies show exercise can increase the
growth factors that improve brain health and resistance
against stress.” The next time you are feeling down or
need to relieve stress, getting that heart rate up may be the
best remedy.Looks like exercise does more than
help you sculpt a better bod: it keeps
your mind on point, too. By Sofia RodriguezFlex for Your Brain
Thrive MIND BODY