If the general population were offered a medicine that had an immediate and positive benefit to their brain through improved mood, memory and sharpened focus, there would likely be a long queue down the street from the chemist.
Add to that a protective effect against the risk of depression, anxiety and dementia, and it would soon become as popular as any vaccine.
The good news is that this medicine already exists, and it outperforms any other drug when it comes to mental health benefits and overall markers of health. It’s called physical activity.
Many of these benefits can be seen after a single bout of physical activity when we observe an increase in neurotransmitters in the brain leading to a form of “natural high.”
This also improves our ability to concentrate for around two hours after the activity has finished and enhances our reaction times.
Perhaps, something we could consider if we need to focus on a piece of work or revise for an exam? Work and school mornings may even become easier if some light physical activity became a normal start to your day.
In terms of our mental health and pain relief, regular physical activity results in a euphoric feeling as the body increases the production of endorphins, so called because their name comes from the term endogenous morphine.
Endogenous means they are produced in our own bodies and morphine refers to the painkilling effects which they mimic.
Perhaps, instead of continually reaching for painkilling tablets (whose long-term impacts are at best questionable and can come with some challenging side effects), there may be an alternative and more natural approach to pain relief through some regular physical activity.
Exercise also produces an increase in serotonin which is one of our natural feelgood neurotransmitters, but when we suffer with low mood for some time, we often try to control its levels with anti-depressant medication.
These drugs are beneficial for many who face significant levels of depression, but for milder sufferers these improvements are not guaranteed and yet can still lead to feelings of dependency.
Perhaps, we could first try to incorporate some regular exercise into our daily routine instead of hoping that a pill will change our brain chemistry and produce a more positive outlook.
Exercise changes our brains anatomy, physiology and function. The areas of the brain responsible for long-term memory and attention increase in volume through the creation of new brain cells as a result of physical activity.
Importantly, these areas of the brain are also the most susceptible to the effects of neurodegenerative disease and the sort of cognitive decline associated with aging.
Now we can’t make your brain bullet proof, and some of these diseases will strike indiscriminately and at all ages, but regular physical activity is without doubt the best way to make your brain as resilient as possible and extend its efficiency as we age.
The other great news is that you don’t have to become a marathon runner or an Olympic weightlifter to benefit from these results. Just 30 minutes of physical activity five days each week, whether that be a walk, gardening or a gym session will all provide some brain boosting benefits.
If you find these articles useful and would like a little health and wellbeing guidance, why not self-refer to our Thrive programme by visiting www.lornhealthyoptions.co.uk