A preliminary study suggests that exercise might benefit children’s brain development. Previous studies have shown links between physical fitness and cognitive skills in young people. Moderate exercise even helps kids think better for several hours.
The new study shows a link between fitness and brain structure. Brain scans of 24 youngsters nine to ten years old showed that those who were more fit had more white matter integrity, hinting that their brains might have better connectivity. That could, in theory, help them with learning.
The research doesn’t actually show whether exercise boosts brainpower or being sedentary saps it. For that, investigators will have to conduct controlled trials of structured physical activity at recess and after school.
[Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, Aug. 19, 2014]
Here at The People’s Pharmacy, we remember that Grandma’s admonition in the old days was “Go out and play!” It seems that far too few kids actually get that opportunity these days. This research suggests we should find ways to make it far easier for kids (and their parents) to get aerobic exercise.
We interviewed Dr. John Ratey, author of Spark, about this topic for our radio show a few years ago. The data he presented are quite convincing.
9/27/18 redirected to: https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/articles/how-much-exercise-do-you-need-to-boost-your-brain/
