In children and adolescents, physical activity is directly linked to improved concentration, reduced ADHD symptoms, and improved academic performance. Research in the US has shown that schoolchildren who exercise at least three times a week perform 20% better on logic and memory tasks.
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Even in older adults, regular exercise slows brain aging. In a study of 1,200 people over 65, those who walked for 45 minutes five times a week had a 50% lower risk of developing dementia. The brain doesn’t age—it’s simply “unused.” Exercise is gymnastics for neurons.
Exercise also restores circadian rhythms. People who exercise outdoors in the morning sleep deeper, wake up less often during the night, and wake up faster. This is especially important in the age of screens and insomnia. Light, movement, and rhythm are the three pillars of healthy sleep.
Important: the effect doesn’t accumulate. It begins after the first workout. After 20 minutes of running, you feel lighter—this isn’t just a fantasy. It’s a real reduction in activity in the amygdala, the brain’s center of fear and anxiety.
Even in times of depression, when you just want to lie down, movement becomes the first step to healing. Not because you “have to,” but because movement is the body’s voice, saying, “I’m still alive.” And this voice, if you listen to it, leads to hope.
In conclusion: sport isn’t about a perfect body. It’s about a perfect mind. It heals not only the body, but also the soul. And it’s the only “medicine” that doesn’t require a prescription, has no side effects, and works even if you don’t feel like taking it.
