A recent study has confirmed what many runners already know: running makes you smarter.
Using MRI exams and other tests, the study analyzed the cognitive function and brain structure of Masters-level athletes who have been exercising for 15 years or more, and compared the results with ten non-exercising people of the same age who had the similar education levels. The authors found that the athletes had better white matter fiber integrity than the sedentary people.
White matter is an essential part of the human nervous system and constitutes the communications system for the brain. While the “gray matter” of the brain contains the neurological processing power needed for motor control and memory, the white matter is responsible for transmitting those signals. Researchers have theorized that the gradual breakdown of white matter is one of the main reasons that people lose memory and motor control with age. Therefore, in order to keep your mind sharp it is important to do everything possible to promote white matter integrity.
It is unclear why regular exercise, such as running, slows the degradation of white matter. One possible reason is because consistent stimulation of white matter through rigorous exercise keeps it active and prevents loss through disuse.
