Exercise is not only a path to physical fitness but also a powerful boost for mental health. Regular movement, whether it’s running, lifting weights, or dancing, releases endorphins that elevate mood and energy levels, while reducing stress, anxiety, and even symptoms of depression. The benefits go beyond just feeling good; exercise can also enhance mental clarity and cognitive function, helping you think more clearly and focus better. According to experts like LaReina Tipping, MSW, exercise supports healthy sleep and nutrition habits, which further contribute to a positive mindset and emotional resilience. With each workout, you’re investing in both your present and future mental well-being.
What Happens in Your Brain When You Work Out
Exercise is a powerful booster for brain health, sparking reactions that improve mood, relieve pain, and enhance cognitive function. During physical activity, the brain releases chemicals like endorphins, endocannabinoids, and dopamine—often creating the “runner’s high” sensation. According to LaReina Tipping, MSW, exercise also promotes neuroplasticity, or the brain’s ability to form new neural connections, supporting lifelong learning and adaptability. In the short term, exercise leaves you feeling motivated and energized, and research shows it can help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, making movement an essential ally for mental health.
Positive Effects Over Time
- Cognitive Benefits: Exercise positively impacts cognitive function and may counteract some effects of aging on the brain.
- Improved Blood Flow: Physical activity raises heart rate, which increases blood flow to the brain and reduces risk factors for dementia, like diabetes and high cholesterol.
- Brain Structure Growth: Exercise may increase the size of critical brain areas, such as the hippocampus and basal ganglia, which are important for memory and learning.
- Neurogenesis and Angiogenesis: Growth in brain structures occurs through neurogenesis (creation of new neurons) and angiogenesis (development of new blood vessels), enhancing brain efficiency.
- Enhanced Brain Processing: Exercise supports neuron growth and helps make the brain a “better processor,” improving attention, learning, memory, and overall cognitive performance.
- Mental Alertness: A brain stimulated by exercise is more alert, engaged, and healthier.
Get the Most Benefit From Exercise
Verywell Mind has listed some helpful recommendations that can be helpful for your physical and mental health.
- Exercise an effective amount of time. “The CDC recommends at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity activity, like brisk walking, or 75 minutes of more vigorous activity,” notes Dr. Boyle. “Aerobic exercise, like brisk walking or jogging, is thought to be more beneficial to cognitive health than non-aerobic exercise such as stretching and toning,” she adds.
- Stay consistent in your exercise regimen to see results. “[The] long-term effects on brain function are pronounced, including improved memory and ability to learn, better problem-solving skills, and the possible delay or even prevention of mild cognitive impairment,“ states Alvaro Pascual-Leone, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder of Linus Health, and a professor of Neurology at Harvard Medical School.
- Make taking care of your health a priority. “Adopting a healthy and engaged lifestyle, by staying physically, socially, and mentally active, benefits both physical and mental health and promotes vitality as we age,” Dr. Boyle concludes.
Incorporating regular exercise into your life isn’t just about physical health; it’s a powerful investment in your brain’s longevity and performance. From improving cognitive function and memory to reducing dementia risk and boosting mental alertness, exercise enhances the brain’s efficiency in ways that support both daily tasks and long-term brain health. By increasing blood flow, fostering neuron growth, and strengthening key areas like the hippocampus, exercise makes your brain a sharper, more resilient processor. So, as you move, remember that each step, stretch, or lift is helping you think clearer, learn better, and age gracefully.
与信任的人分享你的感受。– Share your feelings with someone you trust.
Reference: https://www.verywellmind.com/exercise-benefits-your-body-and-your-mind-8707408
