Exercise and Brain Health

We constantly hear “exercise, exercise, exercise” and exercise indeed helps with so many things. Did you know that our brains depend on exercise for growth and maintenance? Exercise stimulates the release of particular hormones (nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor) that nourish brain cells. If you don’t exercise, your brain won’t get this “hormone bath” and you’ll lose neural connections and make fewer new connections. Without these hormones, our body will spend less time repairing these connections and get brain atrophy and shrinkage. Without these hormones, you’re more likely to have early memory loss, declining social skills, and increased irritability and mood troubles. So, get out there and exercise to make these all-important brain hormones, but remember to check with your provider before starting any new exercise routine.