Exercise helps memory and thought through direct and indirect means. Movement affects the brain on many fronts. It increases the heart rate, which pumps more oxygen to the brain. It also helps the body release a variety of hormones, all of which are involved in creating a nutrient environment for the growth of brain cells.
As we age, the birth of new brain cells decreases and our brain tissue shrinks. A brain study of healthy but sedentary people aged 60 to 79 years showed a significant increase in brain volume after six months of aerobic exercise. There were no such changes between the controls, which only performed stretching and toning exercises.
Brain exercises help your mental health and fitness in the same way that your body benefits from physical activity. And just as a variety of physical exercises such as aerobics, bodybuilding and stretching is more beneficial than a simple one, it does different types of brain exercises.