We all know that regular exercise is good for our health, but did you know that it could actually increase brain size?  According to a recent study, senior citizens who engaged in moderate exercise for 40 minutes a day, three times a week were able to increase their brain size, improve memory and reverse dementia.

The year-long study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences tested 120 volunteers between the ages of 55 and 80. They were split into two groups. One group was told to walk around a track for 40 minutes, three times a week. The other group was asked to do just some stretching exercises and light yoga. MRI scans of the participants’ brains were taken before the study, after six months, and after a year. They showed differences in the size of the hippocampus depending on whether they had exercised or not. The loss of memory in seniors is associated to the shrinking of this vital part of the brain.

The group that exercised showed an increase in volume of the hippocampus; on the right side by 1.97 percent and on the left 2.12 percent. The brains scans of the second group showed an actual decrease in size of the hippocampus by 1.40 percent on the left size and 1.43 percent on the right.

“We think of the atrophy of the hippocampus in later life as almost inevitable,” says Kirk Erickson, professor of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh. “But we’ve shown that even moderate exercise for one year can increase the size of that structure. The brain at that stage remains modifiable.” He added in a statement relayed by WebMD.

Researchers were also optimistic because they found that the subjects who exercised also showed improvements in memory.  This presents wide reaching important implications for the health care of older citizens.

Still not convinced? Check out this article,”Diet, exercise may decrease risk of dementia.” An article published by Clinical Psychiatry News, available for download.