Pump up that brain!

Just back from a trip to the gym today, the Rantmeister saw word of a study that shows exercise can add brain cells in the areas of the brain involved in memory, an area that typically begins to decline as adults reach age 30.

This was good news to the Rantmeister, a casual workout buff who’s already somewhat past age 30. Did I tell you I saw a study about how exercise grows brain cells? I did?

From the story:

Tests on mice showed they grew new brain cells in a brain region called the dentate gyrus, a part of the hippocampus that is known to be affected in the age-related memory decline that begins around age 30 for most humans.

The researchers used magnetic resonance imaging scans to help document the process in mice — and then used MRIs to look at the brains of people before and after exercise.

They found the same patterns, which suggests that people also grow new brain cells when they exercise.

Thirty five minutes on the Stairmaster, then free weights and Nautilus for another 40 minutes a few times a week and you, too, can have a properly pumped up brain!