July 26, 2010

Running Exercise for Healthy Brain

Posted in Category : Alternate Therapies

There are several health benefits that have been associated with running, which most people are aware of. However, a number of recent studies have revealed that there is a connection between running and the brain too. Biological evidence has helped researchers come to the conclusion that exercising (and especially running) can benefit certain brain mechanisms too. Therefore, it is safe to say that running not just tones up your muscles it helps tone up your brain too. Evidence has suggested that people who run regularly are less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and aggression. Besides these it also helps to deal with and some of the other negative emotions that most people, who lead a sedentary lifestyle, may go through.

Running can stimulate the brain to produce new gray matter, which does have a huge impact on a person’s mental abilities. Even a few days of running could lead to the generation of hundreds of thousands of fresh brain cells. Naturally, this will improve your ability to recall events and memories, without any confusion. This skill can enhance your learning ability as well as any other cognitive tasks that you may perform. Therefore, if you jog or run regularly, you could improve your memory as well as learning power. At the same time, running can help you, by slowing down the deterioration of your brain and its abilities. This usually occurs as a person grows older. If you continue running or even jogging, for a few days a week, your brain would continue to remain stimulated.

People who are young do not usually worry about mental conditions, such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, which affect about one in four people, who are over the age of 65. These conditions occur because brain cells gradually deteriorate with old age and your body does not produce new brain cells fast enough. However, these mental conditions could be delayed, or totally avoided, if you keep yourself fit right from the time that you are young. Moreover, working out at a younger age would help increase strength, which can make it easier for you to continue exercising, even as you age. However, there is no age bar to start exercising. You could begin a new exercise regime, which includes running, at any age and still reap its benefits.

However, before you start running, it is important to get a “go ahead” your doctor or your health care practitioner, especially, if you are suffering from any other medical condition.