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Research now shows that exercise improves the brain. Exercise is associated with an increase in the number of large diameter vessels in the cerebral region of the brain and with an increase in blood flow in the three major cerebral arteries, resulting in brain improvement, according to researchers of the Radiological Society of North America. The researchers noted, narrowing and loss of small vessels may contribute to cognitive decline. This area of the brain controls functions that include consciousness, memory, initiation of activity, emotional response, language and word associations.

Subjects exercised over 3 hours a week in aerobic sports on a regular basis, while others had exercised less than 1 hour a week. Age and cognitive ability were similar in the two groups and both groups were relatively healthy, with no significant cardiovascular or psychological conditions, including depression. The researchers used MRI and other methods to visualize cerebral blood vessels and determine cerebral blood flow. The results were, active subjects had more small blood vessels and greater cerebral blood flow than inactive individuals.


The total number of vessels with a radius of 0.2 to 0.3 millimeters was approximately 150 in the active individuals and approximately 100 in the inactive group.

“We found that as the blood vessel radius went up, the blood flow went up in the active group, while an increase in radius correlated with a decrease in blood flow in the inactive group,” Feraz Rahman, one of the researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, reported. “We also found that a loss of small vessels is not an issue in active adults, because the average vessel size increases and blood flow is positively correlated with radius. However, in inactive adults, the number of small vessels is an issue.” Rahman continued by stating, “An aerobic sports program may be a vital part of healthy aging by preventing the narrowing and loss of small cerebral vessels and consequent decrease in cerebral blood flow.” Click here to read more on brain improvement.