Happy Wednesday! June is brain health awareness and for the month of June for workout Wednesday's we are going to be discussing how exercise and movement affects the brain. Today specifically we are going to talk about how exercise boosts overall brain health.
Physical activity and structured movement improves memory and reduces anxiety and depression by releasing endorphins. Endorphins are peptides produced in the brain that block the perception of pain and increase feelings of wellbeing.
Regular physical activity can also reduce risk of cognitive decline like dementia. Exercise improves memory by increasing molecular targets like the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). This molecular factor increases synaptogenesis, forming new synapses that mediate learning and memory, making it easier to absorb information and form long-term memories
It’s obvious that exercise has many benefits on both our physical and mental health and can be a crucial component to keeping your brain sharp as you age. Stay tuned next week where we will talk about how exercise impacts memory! 🧠