Sport und nature: How exercise protects the brain

Endurance sports can improve not only physical fitness but also mental health. Studies show that sports can increase brain volume, especially in the areas important for memory. A neurologist from Vienna, Austria, therefore recommends sports as a preventive measure against dementia.

Josef Spatt, the Viennese neurologist and psychiatrist, explains that the brain can still grow in adults. While alcohol and cigarettes tend to shrink brain volume, activities such as cycling, swimming, and jogging can help the hippocampus, which is important for memory, to grow. Researchers from the University of Bochum came to this conclusion back in 2013.

The more athletic you are, the better. However, a study from the University of Pittsburgh in 2010 showed that even one long walk of about six miles per week can increase brain volume. This is particularly true for brain regions that are important for storing new information and are particularly affected by Alzheimer's, according to Josef Spatt.

Although working out in a gym is fine, Josef Spatt recommends outdoor exercise for mental health. Nature allows us to experience ourselves as part of a larger whole, which can be calming and stress-reducing. Perceiving colors and sounds in outdoor spaces can free us from the fears and worries of everyday life.

A walk is enough to "clear" the brain. Sometimes it is even more helpful than an exhausting mountain bike tour or targeted running training. According to Josef Spatt, it is important to regularly engage in purpose-free movements that are solely for enjoyment, without pursuing a specific goal. Aimless roaming is one of the most natural movements for humans. Josef Spatt therefore prescribes outdoor exercise to his patients with early Alzheimer's disease or depression and anxiety disorders.

Source:

Neurology: Sport makes the brain grow – and prevents dementia - science.ORF.at

Pittsburgh study, 2010: Physical activity predicts gray matter volume in late adulthood - PMC (nih.gov)

Bochum study, 2013: https://rp-online.de/leben/gesundheit/fitness/sport-laesst-hirnareale-wachsen_aid-15945025