It’s unpleasant, but it’s true: As we get older, our brains get a little… hazy. As aging and degenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease kill off brain cells, the noggin shrinks, damaging many important brain functions in the process.
While exercise and a healthy diet can’t “cure” Alzheimer’s, they can help shore up your brain against cognitive decline that begins after age 45.Trusted Source
Working out also boosts the chemicals that support and prevent degeneration of the hippocampus, an important part of your brain for memory and learning.
Going for a run now might help you do better in that game of bridge in 40 years.
Pop quiz, hotshot: Which is better at relieving anxiety — a warm bubble bath or a 20-minute jog?
You might be surprised at the answer. (Don’t try jogging in the bath — it is not a safe pastime.)
The warm and fuzzy chemicals that start to swim around your body after exercise can help soothe people with anxiety disorders.
Hopping on the track or treadmill for some moderate-to-high intensity aerobic exercise (intervals, anyone?) can reduce anxiety symptoms. In a small 2018 study of people with a diagnosis of panic disorder, regular moderate-to-hard exercise led to a greater reduction in anxiety than light exercise.