Study shows why exercise boosts brainpower

After successfully testing on mice researchers have Used MRIs to find that exercise builds new brain cells in a region linked with memory and memory loss. The MRIs showed that exercise increased blood flow to the hippocampus, which is known to be affected in the age-related memory decline that begins around age 30 for most humans. This increased blood flow causes the growth of new brain cells in this part of the brain.

They recruited 11 healthy adults and made them undergo a three-month aerobic exercise regimen.

They did MRIs of their brains before and after. They also measured the fitness of each volunteer by measuring oxygen volume before and after the training program.

Exercise generated blood flow to the dentate gyrus of the people, and the more fit a person got, the more blood flow the MRI detected, the researchers found.