How Exercise Makes Your Children Smarter

Newsweek has a new article out written by Mary Carmichael regarding the effect exercise can have on brainpower and the potential in the battle against Alzheimer's, a subject I care a lot about due to a strong family history. It also touches on the effect exercise has on the cognitive abilities of children:

Most studies of exercise and cognition have focused on older people—the folks who are just starting to worry that their minds aren't what they used to be—but the effects of physical exertion on the brain aren't limited to that group at all. In fact, in young children, they're even more potent. Exercise probably has "a more long-lasting effect on brains that are still developing," says Phil Tomporowski, a professor of exercise science at the University of Georgia. In kids, as in adults, the hippocampus reaps many benefits from exercise. This won't surprise parents of kids with ADHD, many of whom already use physical activity as a substitute or supplement for drugs. In children with the disorder, the hippocampus is enlarged, and it may be wired to the rest of the brain in abnormal ways that affect its function.

More details, including the specific biological process that are being studied, are available by clicking the link above to read the entire article. I also have a more extensive excerpt on my diet and exercise blog.