Regular Exercise Improves Memory

“There was a long hard time when I kept far from me the remembrance of what I had thrown away when I was quite ignorant of its worth.” Charles Dickens (1812-1870), English writer and social critic, “Great Expectations”

Regular exercise improves memory. So start exercising! Let me first lay down the premise to this article before we go any further. According to researchers at the University of British Columbia: One case of dementia is detected every four seconds globally. They estimate that by year 2050, more than 115 million people will have dementia worldwide.

There’s nothing to be sad about… or be afraid of

If life is a chess game and dementia plays on the other side of the board, there are so many ways of converting the game into a win. One way, of course, is having knowledge and understanding of the game itself. This analogy points to dementia as the enemy in having a long and healthy life. Understanding dementia is thus vital in order to defeat it.

You live life as you make it

Whether you are in your 90s or just in your 30s, you are not immune to forgetfulness. Your lifestyle habits affect your brain. What you eat and drink; and whether you exercise or not; stressed out or relaxed, will have a long-term effect in your thinking or your mental health sooner or later, and in every bit that it may just as the same affect your physical health.

Regular exercise and healthy diet protect your brain from dementia

Physical fitness and mental fitness go together. People who exercise regularly tends to stay mentally sharp into their 70s, 80s, and beyond. Although the precise “dose” of exercise isn’t known, research suggests that the exercise should be moderate to vigorous and regular (Harvard School of Medicine Health Letter, January 2018).

Exercise and your brain

Heidi Godman of Harvard University says: “Exercise helps memory and thinking through both direct and indirect means. The benefits of exercise come directly from its ability to reduce insulin resistance, reduce inflammation, and stimulate the release of growth factors – chemicals in the brain that affect the health of brain cells, the growth of new blood vessels in the brain, and even the abundance and survival of new brain cells.”

Physical activities that can improve memory (Harvard Health Letter, April 2014)

Walk instead of driving whenever possible. Run at your own phase if you have the time. Set aside time each day for exercise. Ask your spouse or a friend to join you, for extra motivation. Use the stairs instead of the elevator. Plant a garden and tend it. Take exercise class or join a club. Swim regularly if you have access to a pool or beach. Learn a sport.