Researchers found that a few minutes of this activity will help improve your memory.
Tired of forgetting where your girlfriend’s car keys or birthday are? We have good news, exercising helps improve memory, according to a study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Were 54 adults investigated? some with memory problems, others not. They were presented with several images. Then half did 6 minutes of exercise on a stationary bike, the others did nothing.
When everyone was asked to remember the images that had been presented to them, those who took a bicycle showed a better memory, said Sabrina Segal, head of the study.
How does exercise help memory? Researchers give the credit to the hormone norepinephrine, secreted during physical activity and that promotes good memory.
To check their results, the researchers took saliva from the participants, before and after they saw the images, and another test after the exercise.
Alpha amylase levels, a marker of norepinephrine rose in those who exercised.
And although the study focused on people 50 to 85 years old, Segal believes that the benefits are even greater in young people.