Your brain gets a mental boost from exercise that can last until tomorrow

February 14, 2025 11:00 am
Published by Christine Rizk

We all know that moving our bodies is good for our hearts, muscles, and joints. Science is also showing that it gives our brains a lift, not just over the long term but even in the hours right after we exercise. According to new research, that mental boost might last for a full day.

Researchers studied 76 adults between the ages of 50 and 83 as they went about their normal routines for eight days. Each participant wore a wrist activity tracker that measured how much time they spent being active, how intense the activity was, and how well they slept. Every day, they also took memory and thinking tests, alternating between different types so they would not simply improve through practice.

The results showed that people who spent more time doing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, such as brisk walking, jogging, or cycling, scored better on both episodic memory (remembering past experiences) and working memory (holding and using information temporarily) the next day.

Sleep quality played an important role as well. Participants who got more restorative “slow-wave” sleep also saw next-day memory improvements, regardless of their activity levels. Those who spent more time sitting had worse working memory scores the following day.

Exercise increases blood flow and triggers the release of brain chemicals that help with thinking and memory, providing the mental boost. Some of these effects fade within hours, but others, especially those related to memory, may last for 24 to 48 hours. This could explain why participants still performed better the next day.

The study reinforces the value of staying active as we age. Pairing regular activity with good-quality sleep may help keep our minds sharper, our memory stronger, and our independence longer.

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This post was written by Christine Rizk