A majority of research regarding exercise has concluded that it has substantial benefits to one's health. From lowering blood pressure and cholesterol to managing weight, exercise has been deemed the magical elixir of life. Some studies have indicated that exercise is also a means to reduce memory loss and actually improve brain activity.
Types of Memory
Scientists agree the human brain has three different types of memory: the sensory, working and long-term registries, according to the Georgia Tech College of Computing. The sensory registry is the buffer that filters the information from your senses to your working memory. The working memory acts as your short-term storage space for information; this information is lost at a rapid rate and has limited capacity. From there, information is passed to the long-term memory. This is the warehouse where memories are stored for long periods of time. The question still remains whether information is actually forgotten or if you are merely unable to retrieve it.
Exercise and Nerve Cell Growth
In 1999, Terrence Sejnowski and his colleagues at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute conducted a study that found voluntary exercise performed by mice boosted the growth of new nerve cells and the connections between the cells. Both of these improve long-term memory function. The study also indicated that the brains of active mice had 2.5 times more new nerve cells than inactive mice.
Memory Restoration
A study by Dr. Antonio Convit of the New York University School of Medicine suggests that certain behaviors, including exercise, can actually regenerate the brain. Memory seems to be closely linked to fitness level. By exercising regularly, the brain essentially restores itself. The research also links weight loss and stabilized glucose levels to improved memory. This makes sense, because exercise plays a key role in weight management and naturally lowering one's glucose.
Sufficient Exercise Level
Researchers at the University of Illinois-Urbana set out to determine how much exercise is necessary to keep the memory in peak condition. They determined that 30 minutes of moderate activity, such as a brisk walk, performed a few times a week will provide these benefits. Every bit of exercise adds up.
