Hear from our Students: How Sport Lets the Brain Grow
Exercise affects not only the body, but also the brain. Therefore, regular exercise not only improves endurance and builds muscle, but also increases concentration, memory, and even mood and mental health.
But what exactly happens in the brain?
An important effect of exercise is improved concentration and learning ability. When people do sports, the heart pumps more blood through the body and into the brain. This increases the supply of oxygen and nutrients, which helps the brain work more efficiently. Scientists also explain that physical activity strengthens the connections between nerve cells, allowing information to travel faster through the brain. In addition, exercise stimulates the growth of new brain cells, especially in the hippocampus, the area responsible for memory and learning. Studies with students have shown that even short movement breaks during lessons can improve attention and focus afterward. After exercising, many students are more alert, less tired, and able to remember information better. Therefore, regular physical activity can help people learn more effectively and stay concentrated for longer periods of time. So the brain develops more after doing sport.
In addition, sport has a positive effect on mental health. Many people feel more relaxed and happier after exercising because the body releases endorphins, also called “happy hormones.” These hormones reduce stress and help people feel more confident and motivated in everyday life. Regular physical activity can also lower anxiety. Sport can also reduce the risk of depression. During exercise, the body releases chemical substances such as endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin. These substances are important because they improve mood and create a feeling of happiness and relaxation. At the same time, sport lowers the level of stress hormones like cortisol. If cortisol stays too high for a long time, it can negatively affect the brain and increase feelings of sadness, stress, and anxiety. Exercise also helps people sleep better, feel more energetic, and gain self-confidence. For example, when someone notices that they are getting stronger or improving in a sport, they often feel proud and more motivated. In this way, regular physical activity can support mental health and lower the risk of depression.
Sport can also improve sleep quality in several ways. Physical activity helps the body use energy during the day, which makes people feel naturally tired in the evening and helps them fall asleep faster. In addition, exercise reduces stress and anxiety by lowering cortisol levels and increasing the production of relaxing hormones such as endorphins. This helps the body and mind calm down before sleep. According to researchers from the Sleep Foundation, regular exercise can improve both sleep duration and sleep quality because it supports a healthier sleep cycle. Scientists also explain that regular movement increases the amount of deep sleep. Deep sleep
is especially important for the brain because this is the phase in which memories and information are processed and stored. During sleep, the brain also removes waste products and recovers from stress during the day. As a result, people who exercise regularly often wake up feeling more rested, focused, and productive. Better sleep therefore improves concentration, learning ability, and overall mental health.
However, sport can also become unhealthy if people overtrain or perform harmful exercises incorrectly. When the body does not get enough rest, muscles and joints
cannot recover properly. This can lead to pain, exhaustion, or even long-term injuries. For example, too much intense training may increase stress hormones in the body and weaken the immune system. Some exercises can also damage the joints if they are done with poor technique or too much weight. Activities that put extreme pressure on the knees, hips, or back may cause joint problems over time, especially without proper warm-ups or supervision. According to experts from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, overuse injuries are common in people who train too hard without enough recovery. Therefore, it is important to exercise in a balanced way, take breaks, and use correct techniques to protect both the body and the brain.
Apart from that, if you exercise in a balanced manner, sport may protect the brain in old age and reduce the risk of diseases such as Alzheimer’s or dementia. Scientists believe this is because regular physical activity keeps the brain active. Researchers from the Alzheimer’s Association explain that physical activity may strengthen the connections between nerve cells and slow down the loss of brain function in older adults. In addition, movement stimulates the release of proteins that support the growth and survival of brain cells. People who exercise regularly are therefore often able to remember information better, think more clearly, and stay mentally active as they age. In conclusion, sport has many many positive effects on the brain such as improving memory, concentration, mood, mental health, and even lets the hippocampus grow, while exercise also protect the brain from stress and diseases. Too much sport in a too short time space can also lead to long-term-injuries, stress and weakens the immune system. Therefore, regular and balanced exercise is not only important for physical fitness, but also for a healthy and active mind.
by Emma (IB28) for Clarity Magazine