Running is perhaps the most beneficial exercise there is. Recent research has found that between a number of different types of exercises, running was the best at boosting BDNF, a protein that promotes the growth of new neurons, and therefore boosts the power of the brain.

Not only this, but running is something that be done without a gym membership, expensive equipment, and in almost any location. Moving long distances is an activity humans have relied upon for thousands of years, and our body is uniquely designed to excel at it. Recently, neuroscientists have been delving into the many ways that running effects your brain, some of which is detailed in the Huffington Post:

Not so many years ago, the brightest minds in neuroscience thought that our brains got a set amount of neurons, and that by adulthood, no new neurons would be birthed. But this turned out not to be true. Studies in animal models have shown that new neurons are produced in the brain throughout the lifespan, and, so far, only one activity is known to trigger the birth of those new neurons: vigorous aerobic exercise, said Karen Postal, president of the American Academy of Clinical Neuropsychology. “That’s it,” she said. “That’s the only trigger that we know about.”

The other fascinating thing here is where these new cells pop up: in the hippocampus, a region of the brain associated with learning and memory. So this could help explain, at least partially, why so many studies have identified a link between aerobic exercise and improvement in memory.

If you want to live a long life that doesn’t end with cognitive decline and memory loss, running is an activity that you need to make time for. Check out the full post for more of the neuroscience behind running.

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