People often feel an instantaneous mental boost after exercise. The effect was regarded as short-lived, but a study published online on December 10, 2024 International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Suggests it may well last all day.
Scientists collected data from 76 men and girls, ages 50 to 83, who wore activity trackers for eight days and took cognitive tests on daily basis. On average, people spent about an hour of moderate exercise, five hours of sunshine activity and nine hours of sitting every day. Moderate-vigorous exercise includes activities that raise the center rate, comparable to brisk walking, dancing, or walking up and down stairs.
When comparing activity levels with memory test results, the researchers found that any amount of moderate physical activity was related to higher scores on next-day memory tests, no matter time spent in sedentary behavior or light activity. Specifically, participants demonstrated higher working memory and episodic memory (recall of events).
Exercise increases blood flow to the brain and stimulates the discharge of neurotransmitters like norepinephrine and dopamine, which help with a spread of cognitive functions, based on researchers. These neurochemical changes last for just a few hours after exercise, but recent findings suggest they might last for much longer.
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