Physical Activity Changes the Very Structure of the Brain

Researchers have found that exercise changes the brain in at least 3 desirable ways

The brains makes up only 2 percent of our body's mass but consumes 15 percent of our body's blood flow—which exercise helps ensure. Sergey Nivens/Shutterstock

Regular exercise changes the structure of our bodies’ tissues in obvious ways, such as reducing the size of fat stores and increasing muscle mass. Less visible, but perhaps even more important, is the profound influence exercise has on the structure of our brains—an influence that can protect and preserve brain health and function throughout life.

In fact, some experts believe that the human brain may depend on regular physical activity to function optimally throughout our lifetime.