Brain fog can be defined as a clouding of consciousness; symptoms that affect your thinking, memory and concentration. Forgetting where you put your phone, only to look down and find it in your hands. Going upstairs to grab your wallet, only to walk upstairs and forget what you were looking for. Brain fog affects us all. It seems though, whether through aging or growing screen time, we are increasingly experiencing these lapses in consciousness.
According to “Mayo Clinic: How Exercise Reduces Brain Fog, ” by Brent Bauer, physical activity enhances cognitive health. With aging comes the loss of many things, one of which are brain neurons. This is what affects memory and cognitive ability. A positive is that your brain never stops making new neurons. When we exercise, there is a release of chemicals that keep neurons alive through the increase of your heart rate and blood flow. This process is called neurogenesis.
Since the brain holds the ability to create new neurons, it also has the ability to create new neural connections, which is called neuroplasticity. People with better cardiovascular fitness have better brain functioning, and a reduced rate of cognitive decline during middle-age. When it comes to which exercise is best to promote this brain function, there isn’t a step-by-step method. Even just walking briskly for 30-60 minutes, 3-5times a week can help. Resistance and aerobic exercises can help more than stretching exercises.
The main point is–– get your body moving! I often find that when I start my day with a workout, I am more focused and energized as the day goes on. This is even more true when I pair a workout with healthy eating and adequate water intake. I’m less likely to lose my keys, or misplace my phone when my mind and body are working together, feeding information back and forth like a 2-man relay.
