Working out is good for your brain too.

I recently read an interesting article about the correlation between vigorous physical activity and GPA. While there have been many recent studies relating the mental and cognitive benefits for seniors who exercise, I haven't seen a whole lot on what goes on with a young brain with exercise. Studies show that there are strange correlations between being able to concentrate and the amount of physical activity one engages in. Even to the point where physical activity can help a person avoid taking medication for things like ADD (Riding is my Ritalin).

This past June, however, the American College of Sports medicine reported the results of a project that showed a positive correlation between GPA and exercise in undergraduate students who engaged in "vigorous" activity for at least 20 minutes a day. (vigorous means it's hard to talk while you are doing your exercise. Like Big Bob up there^) The study goes on to say that this correlation has been well established in elementary students and secondary students, but that no previous studies have significantly investigated the same phenomenon in college students.

I'm hoping that this finding extends to medical students too, given my pending return to the classroom. Looks like maybe I should be lobbying for a return to recess after lunch like back in the good old days.