Exercise is the most transformative thing that you can do for your brain today for the
following three reasons.
Number one, a single workout that you do will immediately increase levels of neurotransmitters
like serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline.
That is going to increase your mood right after that workout.
But these immediate effects are transient, they help you right after.
What you have to do is change your exercise regime.
Increase your cardio respiratory function to get the long lasting effects.
Exercise actually changes the brain's anatomy, physiology and function.
The hippocampus, or, exercise actually produces brand new brain cells - new brain cells in
the hippocampus.
As well as improve your long term memory.
Number two, the most common finding in neuroscience studies looking at the effects of exercise,
long term exercise is improved attention function.
And finally, you not only get immediate effects of mood with exercise, but you get long lasting
increases in those good mood neurotransmitters.
Here you can think about the brain like a muscle.
The more you're working out, the bigger and stronger your hippocampus and prefrontal cortex
gets.
The prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus are the two areas that are most susceptible
to normal cognitive decline in aging.
The rule of thumb is you want to get three to four times a week exercise 30 minutes an
exercise session, and you want to get aerobic exercise in.
Get your heart rate up.
Thank you very much.