We all know exercise improves our physical fitness and lowers our chances of certain diseases, but new studies are showing it might be just as important for your brain.????VO-depression??Research has found that exercise can be a great treatment for symptoms of depression-????VO-jump rope-brain overlay??But a new study published in the journal Neurology suggests, it could actually make your brain younger… and maybe even raise your intelligence.

????VO-American Academy of Neurology logo/legs treadmill/stretch??According to ScienceDaily, researchers at the American Academy of Neurology had participants who did not exercise regularly take part in either aerobic activities or simple stretching and toning exercises.????VO-jog stats??And they found that those who took part in aerobic exercise had twice the improvement in brain-related skills compared to the group that simply stretched and toned.

????VO-multitask/aerobic??In fact, when tested on executive functioning ability, or the set of skills that help you get stuff done-The aerobic group tested 20 years younger than their physical age.????VO-brain??the studies author Dr. Yaakov Stern of Columbia University said this about the findings:????VO-’’??"We found that all participants who exercised not only showed improvements in executive function but also increased the thickness in an area of the outer layer of their brain."????VO-rubix cube??And a previous study by McGill University showed a distinct relationship between brain thickness and higher IQ.????VO-weights/jogging group??So does exercise make you smarter?

Maybe.

But you’d have to be stupid to ignore the benefits of a good sweat.????