Brain Health Challenge: Workouts to Strengthen Your Brain
The New York Times••general
Key Points:
- Neurologists emphasize physical activity as the most effective behavior for maintaining and improving brain health, with exercise providing immediate and long-term cognitive benefits.
- Exercise triggers the release of exerkines, signaling molecules that promote neuron growth, repair, and possibly the creation of new neurons, while also improving brain blood flow and reducing toxic protein buildup linked to Alzheimer's.
- Regular physical activity helps slow brain aging, particularly benefiting the hippocampus, a key area for learning and memory that typically shrinks with age and Alzheimer's disease.
- The best exercise for brain health is one that can be done consistently and enjoyed, such as walking briskly, swimming, cycling, or dancing, with recent research showing even a few thousand steps daily can lower dementia risk
