Memory Jolt: Can a Workout Instantly Improve Your Memory?

A workout gets your blood pumping and gets your “engines” running so you can tackle the rest of your day. That’s why morning exercise works for many people. Plus, exercise has a variety of long-term health benefits. In fact, a vigorous workout positively impacts every organ in your body, including your brain. As evidence grows that exercise could help delay brain aging, you might wonder whether working out has short-term cognitive benefits. In other words, are you “smarter” or better able to remember after a workout? If you have to give a public speech or participate in a debate and need to be mentally sharp and on your toes, doing a workout beforehand might give you an edge. Exercise seems to improve memory and cognitive function, not just long term but the moment you finish. What Research Shows In one study, researchers showed healthy, middle-aged and older adults, some with cognitive impairments, a series of images and asked them to remember what they say. After asking them to cycle on an exercise bike for 6 minutes at 70% of their aerobic capacity, they tested their recall an hour after they finished their workout. Interestingly, both groups were able to remember more of the images after working out than they could without doing a workout beforehand. Other research shows people were able to remember sequences of numbers more easily after a bout of aerobic exercise. How Does Exercise Improve Memory Short-Term? It’s not exactly clear how exercise enhances memory, but scientists have some theories. Exercise places stress on your body, depending on the intensity, the stress may be considerable. In response to that stress, your adrenal glands produce larger quantities of a hormone called norepinephrine that ramps up brain and central nervous system activity. It essentially puts your brain on […]

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