New research reveals that the types of exercise we engage in play an even greater role than we thought in keeping us physically fit and mentally sharp, especially after age 50. Nine studies in Europe and the United States have demonstrated that regular aerobic exercise has a positive impact on several areas of cognition, including cognitive processing speed, memory and attention.

It appears that the continuous, rhythmic activity of aerobic exercise not only improves cardiovascular fitness, but cerebral blood flow, leading to increased brain metabolism, which stimulates the production of neurotransmitters and the formation of new synapses. It makes sense that the more oxygen our brain gets from the bloodstream, the fitter we are mentally.

Source: Center for the Advancement of Health, 2008