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Be smart, exercise your heart: exercise effects on brain and cognition

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Check out this Knowledge Base article from StressTherapy Solutions: Be smart, exercise your heart: exercise effects on brain and cognition.

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Study at a glance

Area
Ageing, Memory & Cognition
Study type
Review & meta-analysis
Authors
Hillman CH, Erickson KI, Kramer AF
Journal
Nature Reviews Neuroscience
Year
2008
Protocol
narrative review

Key findings

  • Human and animal studies show aerobic exercise can improve several aspects of cognition and performance
  • Effects are examined at molecular, cellular, systems and behavioral levels
  • Exercise might improve children's academic performance as well as physical health
  • The authors note that 74% of US adults do not meet the guideline of at least 30 minutes of moderate activity on most days

DOI 10.1038/nrn2298 → PubMed 18094706 →

A review of research on how aerobic exercise affects the brain and thinking. Drawing on human and animal studies, the authors examine benefits at molecular, cellular, systems and behavioral levels, and note that, with inactivity and obesity rising among children, exercise might help their academic performance as well as their physical health. They conclude that a growing body of evidence supports physical activity as a lifestyle factor that may improve physical and mental health throughout life.