Feel sharp the next day by being physically active today

Feel sharper after some physical activity?

That buzz of feeling more alive and aware can last the next day too, say researchers from University College London (UCL).

Although we can sense a feeling of being more cognitively aware after exercise, nobody has tracked just how long the feeling lasts.

The UCL researchers tested a group of 76 people, aged between 50 and 83, after they had done some moderate to vigorous physical activity, and discovered they still had greater mental sharpness the following day.

Aside from sitting around less and being more active, the participants also enjoyed deeper sleep that also improved memory skills the following day.

It works the other way too.  People who were more sedentary and weren’t physically active had poorer cognitive skills the following day.

Any exercise or activity that raises the heart rate—such as a brisk walk, dancing or climbing a few flights of stairs—can have a positive effect on cognitive abilities.  That’s something most people can do, and it doesn’t require going to the gym or structured exercise, said Mikaela Bloomberg, one of the researchers.

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