Effects of Physical Exercise on Neuroplasticity and Cognition in the Human Brain

Abstract

Various studies over years have been investigating the positive effects of physical exercise on people’s health and lifestyle. However, apart from the health benefits, exercising regularly contributes to various positive changes in the human brain. These changes include structural, functional, and cognitive changes. Clinical research has found that physical exercise can reduce cognitive decline related to age, apart from medical conditions counting type II diabetes, heart diseases, obesity, and cancers. During the process of neuroplasticity, these neurotrophins create variations in the growth and differentiation of cell signaling. Throughout life, events and experiences contribute to changes in the structure and function of the brain, and this change is observed in various parts of the brain. Therefore, this essay will focus on the effects of physical exercise on structural, functional, and cognitive functions in the brain.