I think we all know how important exercise is. Some of us willingly do it, some of us get an absolute boost out of doing it. Some others who are very close to this desk hate it. Can't stand it doesn't do anything for me. I know it's good for me, I just don't like it. But the benefits far outweigh the hardship and the sweat. Every day we're finding out more benefits of exercise. Joining me in as Carol Marr from the University of say a senior researcher who's going to tell me some of the benefits of exercise. Good morning to you.

I think we all know how important exercise is. Some of us willingly do it, some of us get an absolute boost out of doing it. Some others who are very close to this desk hate it. Can't stand it doesn't do anything for me. I know it's good for me, I just don't like it. But the benefits far outweigh the hardship and the sweat. Every day we're finding out more benefits of exercise. Joining me in as Carol Marr from the University of say a senior researcher who's going to tell me some of the benefits of exercise. Good morning to you.

Good morning Graham.

Good morning Graham.

You've done a study into this. I mean, overall, we all know the benefits of exercise, but this can not only improve your body, but it can improve your mind.

You've done a study into this. I mean, overall, we all know the benefits of exercise, but this can not only improve your body, but it can improve your mind.

Yes, exactly, so, yes, you know. I think it's very well known that exercise is good for having a stronger body, being fitter your heart and lung, But less know and other benefits for your brain.

Yes, exactly, so, yes, you know. I think it's very well known that exercise is good for having a stronger body, being fitter your heart and lung, But less know and other benefits for your brain.

What is it about exercise that helps the brain? I mean, we know with the physical side of things that if you exercise and lift weights, you know, you build muscle and so forth, and you can build your endurance and so forth, and aerobically you can improve. But how can exercise help the brain?

What is it about exercise that helps the brain? I mean, we know with the physical side of things that if you exercise and lift weights, you know, you build muscle and so forth, and you can build your endurance and so forth, and aerobically you can improve. But how can exercise help the brain?

Yeah, yes, so it's a lesser known but well proven benefits of exercise. So I might just take a moment to explain to you what we did in this study. Sure so, yeah, So basically we did a really big review study, which is where we find go look up all the previous studies that have ever been done, focused on getting people to exercise and looking at the outcome it has on their cognition. So by cognition, we were interested in, you know, tests that kind of examine how well people think, how good their memory is, you know, planning tasks out that kind of stuff. So we actually pulled together results from over two thousand studies that had involved together around a quarter of a million people, and so we were able to really tease out what are the effects of exercise on these different aspects of your brain function. And also we were able to look at other particular groups that benefit more, you know, other particular forms of exercise that work better than others. You know, are some a waste of time, whereas you know, are some helpful. So we were able to really tease apart all these kind of different variables. Yes, so so basically we found that there is just overwhelming evidence that when you exercise, it has a measurable impact on your cognition. And you know, a nice thing that we found is that actually basically all forms of exercise work, so you know, all the way from you know, probably that kind of vigorous exercise that you said you don't like. But the really nice thing here was that actually quite gentle forms of exercise still had really good benefits for cognition. And in fact, in a lot of cases it was the more gentle exercise that had bigger benefits, which we were surprised by. But I think that's because you know, some of those more gentle forms of exercise, like yogurt and tai chi and dance, they have like a component you know, it's the exercise, but it's also that you're having to really concentrate and think about what you're doing. And I think that sort of combining the exercise with the cognitive challenge seems to amplify the benefits of the cognition.

Yeah, yes, so it's a lesser known but well proven benefits of exercise. So I might just take a moment to explain to you what we did in this study. Sure so, yeah, So basically we did a really big review study, which is where we find go look up all the previous studies that have ever been done, focused on getting people to exercise and looking at the outcome it has on their cognition. So by cognition, we were interested in, you know, tests that kind of examine how well people think, how good their memory is, you know, planning tasks out that kind of stuff. So we actually pulled together results from over two thousand studies that had involved together around a quarter of a million people, and so we were able to really tease out what are the effects of exercise on these different aspects of your brain function. And also we were able to look at other particular groups that benefit more, you know, other particular forms of exercise that work better than others. You know, are some a waste of time, whereas you know, are some helpful. So we were able to really tease apart all these kind of different variables. Yes, so so basically we found that there is just overwhelming evidence that when you exercise, it has a measurable impact on your cognition. And you know, a nice thing that we found is that actually basically all forms of exercise work, so you know, all the way from you know, probably that kind of vigorous exercise that you said you don't like. But the really nice thing here was that actually quite gentle forms of exercise still had really good benefits for cognition. And in fact, in a lot of cases it was the more gentle exercise that had bigger benefits, which we were surprised by. But I think that's because you know, some of those more gentle forms of exercise, like yogurt and tai chi and dance, they have like a component you know, it's the exercise, but it's also that you're having to really concentrate and think about what you're doing. And I think that sort of combining the exercise with the cognitive challenge seems to amplify the benefits of the cognition.

In your research into the benefits of exercise on the brain and cognition was a different for different age groups.

In your research into the benefits of exercise on the brain and cognition was a different for different age groups.

It was the results held. The benefits were seen across the boards for every age group, but we did see larger benefits in younger people. So yeah, so that was kind of interesting to see. And actually the largest benefits of all that we saw were for children with ADHD.

It was the results held. The benefits were seen across the boards for every age group, but we did see larger benefits in younger people. So yeah, so that was kind of interesting to see. And actually the largest benefits of all that we saw were for children with ADHD.

When it comes to undertaking exercise, I'm listening now, I'm going straight home to exercise. I've got good I've got my fingers crossed. But maybe I will maybe I won't. Yeah, can I Is it going to take a long time before I see the benefits?

When it comes to undertaking exercise, I'm listening now, I'm going straight home to exercise. I've got good I've got my fingers crossed. But maybe I will maybe I won't. Yeah, can I Is it going to take a long time before I see the benefits?

No? Well, actually that was another really interesting thing that came out because we were able to look at the results from studies that had used different lengths of interventions. It actually came through quite clearly that you see the benefits within our month, so yeah, you know, really clear benefits within the first month or two. So yeah, you don't need to do it for all that long before it's actually making a difference to your brain.

No? Well, actually that was another really interesting thing that came out because we were able to look at the results from studies that had used different lengths of interventions. It actually came through quite clearly that you see the benefits within our month, so yeah, you know, really clear benefits within the first month or two. So yeah, you don't need to do it for all that long before it's actually making a difference to your brain.

Now, for older people, and we have a few of them listening to this station, they might say, I'm going to go out and do vigorous exercise. What would you recommend to them? I mean, you know, hasten slowly, Well.

Now, for older people, and we have a few of them listening to this station, they might say, I'm going to go out and do vigorous exercise. What would you recommend to them? I mean, you know, hasten slowly, Well.

I would say, the biggest challenge with exercise is sticking with it.

I would say, the biggest challenge with exercise is sticking with it.

You know, it's.

You know, it's.

You know, you have to do exercise to get the benefits of it. And you know, unlike a lot of things that we do for our health, where you know, maybe we just have to pop a pill or you know, go and get an immunization, like it's a really kind of quick, easy thing to do there, whereas exercise takes more effort. You know, it's incredibly powerful for our health. The biggest drawback is the time and effort involved in it. So I would say the number one thing to do is do a form of exercise that you enjoy, because pretty much all forms of exercise are beneficial and if you do something you enjoy, far more likely to stick with that.

You know, you have to do exercise to get the benefits of it. And you know, unlike a lot of things that we do for our health, where you know, maybe we just have to pop a pill or you know, go and get an immunization, like it's a really kind of quick, easy thing to do there, whereas exercise takes more effort. You know, it's incredibly powerful for our health. The biggest drawback is the time and effort involved in it. So I would say the number one thing to do is do a form of exercise that you enjoy, because pretty much all forms of exercise are beneficial and if you do something you enjoy, far more likely to stick with that.

Here you're here, Carol, thanks for your time today. Appreciate it.

Here you're here, Carol, thanks for your time today. Appreciate it.

Pleasure.

Pleasure.

That's Carol mar from the University of Southastralia, Senior researcher. And the benefits of exercise not so much using you. You look good and you fit and so forth, and climb mountains and whatever, but it's good for your brain. Five Double A Mornings with Graham Goodings

That's Carol mar from the University of Southastralia, Senior researcher. And the benefits of exercise not so much using you. You look good and you fit and so forth, and climb mountains and whatever, but it's good for your brain. Five Double A Mornings with Graham Goodings