Can exercise improve your ability to learn?  Yes!  The link below will take you to an article found in the New York Times, “How exercise benefits the brain”.  In short, research has shown that after strenuous activity a high level of a protein known as brain-derived neurotrophic factor, or BDNF, was found.  BDNF proteins act to promote neurogenesis which is the creation of new neurons.  

Harvard psychiatrist, John J. Ratey, M.D., is the author of Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain, calls the BDNF molecule “Miracle-Gro for the brain.”  He says it fuels most of the activities that lead to higher thought. With regular exercise, the body builds up levels of BDNF, which results in the branching out of brain neurons and the creation of new interconnections among them. Consequently, neurons communicate with one another in new ways.

Cardio activity and strength training are extremely beneficial.  But, if you really want to help your brain out take part in a sport like, tennis, basketball or soccer once a week.  If you don’t want to play a sport no problem, go for a brisk 45min walk and when you are finished play a couple games of twister!   Seriously!  If you have someone important in your life who is elderly, put a twister board on the wall and play that way.  They will have to think about what limb they have to move to what color (very beneficial for attention and memory) and get a good stretch as well!  Please email me with any questions 🙂

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/30/how-exercise-benefits-the-brain/