

Therefore, regular exercise can help boost your mood and may help prevent depression. What’s more, one large study including 611,583 adults found a close link between physical activity and a reduced risk of developing depression ( 14). These substances are partly responsible for improvements in mood following exercise ( 12, 13). This is due to a release of feel-good chemicals in the brain - mainly endorphins and endocannabinoids ( 12, 13). You may be familiar with the euphoric feeling you get following a high intensity strength workout or good run, which is often referred to as a “ runner’s high.” Other important effects of exercise on the brain are improved mood and promoted feelings of well-being. Its associated learning improvements are accomplished by changing how our brain cells communicate with each other.

More specifically, exercise plays a crucial role in allowing you to retain new mental and physical skills. Research suggests that one of the ways to improve brain plasticity is through regular exercise ( 9, 10).

Can enhance learningĪ key factor in the learning process is brain plasticity, or the ability of the nervous system to change its activity in response to internal or external stimuli ( 8). One of the most effective ways to counteract the stiffening of the vascular system and prevent related memory loss is to perform regular exercise ( 5).īoth aerobic (longer duration, lower intensity) and anaerobic (shorter duration, higher intensity) exercise can improve cardiovascular function ( 7). Memory has the potential to decline throughout the aging process, in part due to changes in blood flow to the brain ( 4, 5).Īs we age, our large arteries and veins stiffen slightly, resulting in less efficient blood circulation throughout the body, including the brain ( 6). Let’s first review how exercise stimulates mental health. Performing regular exercise plays a key role in promoting various areas of brain health, regardless of whether a person has ADHD.
