Do this to boost your brain health: Dr. Damian Bailey’

There is no current cure for neurogenerative diseases like dementia or Alzheimers. One very powerful way to counter neurodegeneration is through exercise.

But much, how often, and what type of exercise will give maximum results?

According to Dr. Damian Bailey, Director of the Neurovascular Research Laboratory at the University of South Wales, squats are the best exercise to boost your brain health. 

He found out that you don’t have to do strenuous workouts for brain health. Simple squats where you go up and down against gravity, increases and decreases the blood flow to the your brain.

Bailey explains, “This toing and froing from high-flow to low-flow challenges the inner lining of the arteries that supply blood to the brain.”

While you squat, it may increase blood flow to the hippocampus, which is the region of the brain principally responsible for learning and memory faculties.

Blood flow in the hippocampus naturally begins to decrease as we age. This may result in reduced cognitive function like your ability to ask questions and solve problems.

Dr. Bailey said in an interview, “What we have identified is that three to five minutes of squat, three times a week is even more effective in terms of how the brain is adapting and responding to that exercise than steady-state exercise.”

The benefit of squatting is that people of all age groups can do them. They have multiple variations and are simple to perform. No equipment is needed.

In summary, squats are like mini-interval training sessions for the brain. Other benefits include improved muscle and core strength, joint function, mobility, and decreased belly fat.