02/06/2025
What you need to know:
Exercise and movement from your joints and muscles fire sensory receptors, these sensors communicate with neurons in your brain that not only coordinate movement but also control and coordinate executive functions. This is important because your executive functions allow you to plan and prioritize, initiate tasks, regulate your emotions, learn and manage daily life.
The stimulation that your brain receives from movement is a biological requirement to maintain healthy structure and function. The brain related protective effects of exercise are profound.
Physical activity and exercise are dose responsive, the more you give, the more you get. But you do not have to run marathons to receive impactful benefit. Some is unequivocally better than none.
This study found significant benefit in individuals that just implemented more walking into their daily routine.
How can you implement more movement into your day to protect your brain??
Reference
Gogniat, et al. (2022) Physical activity and fitness moderate the association between executive function and anti-correlated networks in the aging brain. Sport Sciences for Health, 2022; DOI: 10.1007/s11332-021-00887-9
