Down Side of Exercise

‘Easy Does It’ is Key to Mental Sharpness

A study reported on WebMD (below) indicates that as we age, strenuous exercise may actually defeat our purposes of retaining memory through fitness.  It’s something we don’t often think about, but it is a no-brainer (sorry).

If we overdo the exercise side of our brain fitness programs, it is another form of stress.  When our bodies are stressed, the signal to the brain is to produce, along with the fun endorphins, adrenalin and cortisol.

Cortisol can make us strong, but it can also make us somewhat dumb, losing our ability to learn.  It’s one of the big reasons stress is less than desirable.

In a new study, women who regularly engaged in exercises like running, swimming laps, or calisthenics for decades experienced a significant decline in memory, recall, and other brain skills. Strenuous Exercise Linked to Memory Loss.

Solution.  Take a look at some previous posts here on exercise.  Moderate exercise is the key to brain health and brain fitness.

Your Brain Coach

Art by whambrands