Exercise and Brainpower

Who says jocks are stupid? Not the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences study that showed a strong cardiovascular system in young adults may boost brainpower. If you've ever heard the saying, "a healthy mind lives in a healthy body" than you know this concept has been around a long time.
"We are aiming at politicians and educators who decide on academic curricula and budgets and how sport fits into the picture of academic success," says study senior author H. Georg Kuhn. The study also found that genetics has a lot less to do with exercise and weight-loss than was previously thought. In reality it's environment that has the biggest factor.
The study looked at 18 year old men and their previous academic performance, what socioeconomic class they came from, and the number of siblings they had. Better cardiovascular endurance was associated with higher intelligence, although muscle strength was not. Twin men were involved in the study which showed that environment counted for more than 80% and genetics were less than 15%.

"Any number of factors could explain why better cardiovascular fitness through exercising impacts brain function, including improved blood flow to the brain, diminished anxiety, enhanced mood and less fatigue." says Dr. Johnathan H. Whiteson, co-founder of a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation center.
Lesson of the day: Hit the gym before you hit the books!

Visit www.upwardmotionpt.com for you FREE consultation!