A fascinating link between regular exercise and better brain health has been revealed, according to an international study that included a team of clinical researchers from Pacific Neuroscience Institute’s Brain Health Center, located at Providence Saint John’s Health Center.

The research, detailed in the paper “Exercise-Related Physical Activity Relates to Brain Volumes in 10,125 Individuals,” was published this week in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and shows being physically active is related to increased size of brain areas important for memory and learning. It found those who regularly engaged in physical activities such as walking, running or sports had larger brain volumes in key areas. This includes the gray matter, which helps with processing information, and the white matter, which connects different brain regions, as well as the hippocampus, important for memory.