You know those folks who buy those brain puzzlers.  They all expect those games to keep their mind from falling prey to dementia or from Alzheimer’s.  Despite the fact that there is no scientific evidence such an exercise works.

But, one of the best things we all can do to preclude the decay of our mental capacity is to keep fit.  Working out- walking 6 miles a week, riding 15 miles a week, swimming laps, whatever- those activities are great for our physical capabilities and to maintain our mental ones, as well.

We learned about two decades ago that mice that exercise are able to generate new neurons.  (Dr. H. van Praag, G. Kempermann, and F. Gage, Salk Institute, La Jolla)   And, Dr. Arthur Kramer ( along with his team of S. Hahn, N. Cohen, M. Banich, E. McAuley, C. Harrison, J. Chason, E. Vakil, L. Bardell, R. Boileau, And A. Colcombe) of the University of Illinois demonstrated that sedentary adults can augment cognitive skills after a six month aerobic program.  Yet, we still have a population of couch potatoes!

And, it’s not just for us old farts.  We know that kids in the top 5% of fitness score more than  35% higher on achievement tests than those in the bottom 5% of fitness.

These changes may be related to the reduction in stress that accompanies those who exercise.  And, stress stops us from resolving problems.  (Hmm.  Maybe that’s why I was always able to develop great plans and product ideas when I drove from Charlottesville to Dulles in the middle of the night, catching the flights to the West Coast.  With no one on the road, my mind was relieved of stress and able to “brainstorm”.)

Or, maybe, the exercise regime ensures the transport of nutrients and oxygen to the brain, due to the increased blood flow that accompanies exercise. (We are learning that high blood pressure can diminish cognitive performance- and exercise is a means to lower our blood pressure.) Or, the fact that exercise promotes the release of dopamine and noradrenaline, as well as growth factors, all important in reducing depression, ADD activity, among other brain functions.

So, as I’ve written many times (here, here, and here– or just search the index for exercise)  – be active.  Exercise.  For your heart, lungs, and brain.

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