We’ve all heard that exercise is good for our health. It has been associated with benefits for almost all systems in the body including improved cardiovascular health, increased bone mineral density, decreased risk for stroke, diabetes, and cancer. It is also well known for decreased rates of depression.

What do we know about how exercise impacts the brain? Exercise has been associated with improved cognitive function including memory, attention, executive functioning, and problem solving. It has been shown to promote brain vascularization (improved blood flow to the brain). Exercise is linked to a larger volume of the hippocampus, the brain center for learning and memory, and also one area of the brain that is affected in Alzheimer’s. Exercise has also been shown to promote the growth of new neurons in the brains.