Influence of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness on brain structure and functioning: a review

Positive correlations between physical activity and fitness with psychological benefits have been reported for many decades. Currently available novel neuroimaging techniques enable comparison and assessment of collected data, creating an opportunity to draw conclusions on the effectiveness of different types of exercise on improving brain functioning and health. There is a strong correlation between frequency of physical activity across the lifespan and benefits for brain functioning and volume. Aerobic physical activity, as the most thoroughly investigated type of exercise, comes out as the most beneficial for increasing brain volume and enhancing cognitive functions. It is also effective for raising the levels of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF). However, sedentary lifestyle may diminish positive influence of physical activity and seems to be a crucial negative factor for maintaining brain health.