Something has been shown in an incredible study to actually increase the volume of the frontal and temporal lobes even into our older years. A group of people were put on an aerobic exercise program over the course of six months. They started off moderately and increased the intensity over time. The control group did toning and stretching and did not see the brain benefits. Brain scans, at the conclusion of six months, revealed that those who were in the aerobic exercise group increased the size of their frontal and temporal lobes. Could it change your life?
Today I am going to talk to you about a scientific study that showed that it is actually possible to increase the volume or the size of different portions of your brain. This study was done in 2006 at the University of Illinois and what they did was they took a group of people, ages 60-79, and they were previously sedentary, meaning they did not exercise. And they put them on an aerobic exercise program over the course of 6 months. To begin with, it was less intense, but they increased the intensity over the course of the 6 month period. They did MRI scans and looked at the brains of these individuals and what they discovered is very fascinating. What they discovered is that they had actually increased, over the 6 month period, the size of their frontal and temporal lobes. The temporal lobe, as we get older, actually many times deteriorates. People as a consequence of that can have Dementia or Alzheimer's or maybe somehow they work together. But the reality is, they were able to increase the size of their frontal and temporal lobes by simply exercising or by being on an aerobic exercise plan. The control group, they were doing toning and stretching and they did not have the same benefits to the brain. It's amazing because we read in the book Mind Character and Personality page 117 "...exercise is strengthening to brain, bone, and muscle...Without such exercise the mind cannot be in working order. It cannot put forth the sharp, quick action that will give scope to its powers." So, what are gonna do? I would challenge you that if you don't exercise or if you haven't, don't go out and try to run a marathon...don't do something intense, but slowly get out, maybe walk and work your way up to an aerobic exercise program and maybe reap the very same benefits.
