Exercising regularly doesn't just help keep obesity and cholesterol at bay. It also encourages the development of our brain, according to a new study coordinated by Timothy Bussey, a neuroscientist at the University of Cambridge.
Bussey's experiments, conducted with mice, show that jogging and other aerobic exercises enhance the growth of new cells in the brain, a process known as neurogenesis . This phenomenon is observed especially in the areas related to memory and learning.
But why does physical exercise cause this effect on the brain? Although the answer is unclear, Bussey suggests it could have to do with increased blood flow or increased levels of certain hormones while running. It could also be related to the decrease in levels of cortisol , the stress hormone, during exercise.
