The Effect of Exercise on the Brain

by Jimoh Hammed

The brain is a complex organ that controls our thought, motor skills, vision, emotion, speech, memory, and every other mechanism that controls our being. Exercise has quite a number of benefits that affect our brain activities positively and help us to function better as humans. Exercise improves physical fitness, strengthens the body, and improves overall health and wellness. Individuals exercise for various reasons, ranging from developing a healthy cardiovascular system, muscle building, improving bone health, weight loss, and lowering the risk of cancer and brain health.

Exercise is broadly classified into three (3) categories, namely:

- Aerobic exercises: Are a group of exercises that involve the use of large muscle groups at the same time, which leads to the use of more oxygen than when the body is in its resting state.

- Anaerobic exercise: Involves strength and resistance training.

- Flexibility exercise: Focuses on strengthening and increasing muscle lengths.

The effect of exercise on the brain is evident in the following ways:

1. Exercise promotes blood flow which helps feed the brain. Various studies show that the brain uses about 20% of the calories we take in, and for this reason, it requires a constant supply of nutrients to perform its function efficiently. Exercise helps with that. When we engage in exercises like running, swimming, or simply brisk walking, our hearts tend to beat at a faster pace, which improves the rate of blood supply not only to our brain but also to every living cell of our body.

2. Exercise ameliorates cognitive proficiency. Studies suggest that people learn vocabulary words faster after they exercise. Physical activity improves learning a second language. This can be traced to the production of a growth factor protein found in the brain called the Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF). A 2013 scientific study established that 20 to 40 minutes of aerobic exercise increased BDNF in the blood by 32%. BDNF performs a similar function to a fertilizer on a plant to the brain. It improves synaptogenesis, and improved production of synapses ultimately facilitates learning and improves memory efficiency.

3. Exercise helps mitigate stress. Exercise helps reduce stress by reducing the number of stress receptors in the part of the brain hippocampus. Reduction in these stress receptors ultimately leads to a reduction in stress levels. Exercise also helps increase the production of serotonin, norepinephrine, and endorphins. These neurotransmitters are produced in the brain and are referred to as the feel-good hormones."

In conclusion, it is clear that exercise has a positive effect on the brain. Regular exercise not only improves physical fitness, but it also strengthens the body, promotes blood flow to the brain, and helps ameliorate cognitive proficiency. Exercise also helps mitigate stress and increases the production of neurotransmitters that make us feel good. The benefits of exercise on the brain are numerous, and it is essential to engage in physical activity to improve our overall health and wellness. Therefore, it is important to incorporate exercise into our daily routine to improve brain function, reduce stress, and ultimately, live a healthier and happier life.

REFERENCES

Liu F, Sulpizio S, Kornpetpanee S, Job R. It takes biking to learn: Physical activity improves learning a second language. PLoS One. 2017 May 18;12(5):e0177624. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0177624. PMID: 28542333; PMCID: PMC5436710.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/partner-content-keeping-our-brain-healthy#:~:text=Composed%20of%20about%2073%20percent,fueled%20and%20healthy%20is%20crucial

https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/pa-health/index.htm#:~:text=Regular%20physical%20activity%20is%20one,ability%20to%20do%20everyday%20activities.

https://lifesciences.byu.edu/how-exercise-affects-your-brain