Physical Fitness Associated with Better Brain Health

Using a database of 1,260 MRI brain scans from the Human Connectome Project and results of a test where 30 subjects walked as fast as possible for 2 minutes, researchers found a correlation between covering greater distance and performing better in separate tests measuring sharpness, judgment, reasoning and memory. Findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports.

The more fit subjects who walked for longer distances than their less fit counterparts also tended to have superior structural integrity of white matter, which is associated with faster and more efficient nerve connections in the brain. Whether brain function can be enhanced by working to improve your level of fitness is not yet known.