It is well documented that in the brain, blood flow and thinking peak during young adulthood—but a new study just published in Psychophysiology has shown that oxygen availability is higher in adults who exercise regularly. So, HR take note: staff who exercise regularly are more likely to better business thinkers—as the amount of available oxygen is known to positively relate to brain health and function. In the study, women who exercised on a regular basis had higher oxygen availability in the anterior frontal region of the brain and performed best on difficult cognitive tasks. Dr Liana Machado, Senior Author of the Psychophysiology study said, “Findings suggest that regular engagement in physical activity may improve brain functioning even in young adults in their prime. Both blood supply to the brain and cognitive functioning appear to benefit from regular exercise.”
So the age-old adage of healthy body…healthy mind still very much rings true, and encouraging staff to engage in regular exercise not only makes for a healthier workforce, but also a brainier one too.
Paul Arkwright
Publisher
