Aerobic Exercise & Brain Size

The impact of aerobic exercise on brain size has been the subject of numerous studies as researchers try to decide how to enhance memory and prevent cognitive atrophy with age. Overall, the studies have garnered positive results showing that individuals who regularly engage in aerobic exercise experience an increase in brain volume.

Aerobic Exercise

Aerobic exercise requires consistent and rhythmic movement of the major muscle groups for a sustained period of time. This movement generates heat and increases heart rate and breath volume while improving blood circulation. Common forms of aerobic exercise include walking, running, swimming, cycling and group exercise classes like step aerobics and cardio kickboxing.

Adults

Scientists have turned to studying aerobic exercise as a potential means for slowing, preventing or even reversing the decrease in brain volume often associated with age. When an adult experiences a decrease in brain volume, a decline in cognitive function often follows. One such study looking at the effect of cardiovascular exercise on brain size took place at the University of Illinois Beckman Institute in 2006. After 59 sedentary older adults between the ages of 60 and 79 participated in a six-month exercise intervention, those who did aerobic exercise saw increases in both gray and white brain matter, while those who participated in stretching and toning exercise didn't see any increases in brain size.

Children

Children's brains also appear to benefit from aerobic exercise. In a 2010 study performed at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 9- and 10-year-olds who ranked well on treadmill fitness tests had larger hippocampuses than their less-fit peers. The hippocampus is associated with spatial reasoning and cognitive tasks, according to the study's researchers, and the fit children also performed better on cognitive tests than their less-fit peers.

Exercise Recommendations

The American College of Sports Medicine recommends that all adults over the age of 18 should receive at least 30 minutes of aerobic physical activity on most days of the week for health purposes. Children should receive 60 minutes of exercise every day in order to attain health-related benefits, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You don't have to receive all of your aerobic exercise in a single bout -- if you can only fit in 10 to 15 minutes here and there, make sure you take advantage of every potential opportunity. Your brain size will thank you.

Aerobic Exercise & Brain Size