Several studies have found an association between physical activity and reduced risk of cognitive decline. Exercise elevates your heart rate and increases blood flow, stimulating chemical changes in the brain that enhance memory, learning, and neuroplasticity. It also appears to provide physical benefits to the brain, including increasing the thickness of the cerebral cortex and improving the integrity of nerve fibers.
Even a moderate amount of exercise appears to benefit the brain. One recent study concluded that an hour of light-intensity physical activity equivalent to achieving 7,500 steps daily was associated with higher total brain volume. The benefits slowed brain aging by approximately 1.4 to 2.2 years.