How Does Swimming Benefit the Brain?

Research has suggested that swimming benefits brain health. According to popsci.com, “Regular swimming has been shown to improve memory, cognitive function, immune response, and mood. Swimming may also help repair damage from stress and forge new neural connections in the brain.

Evidence has supported the fact that aerobic exercise plays a role in neurogenesis and the reverse of damage to the neurons as well as repairing the damage in mammals and fish. Research has shown that increased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor which is a protein is responsible for these changes from exercise. “The neural plasticity, or ability of the brain to change, that this protein stimulates has been shown to boost cognitive function, including learning and memory. Studies have shown a correlation between the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and the increased hippocampus size (region in the brain involved with memory and learning). Based on studies, increased levels of brainderived neurotrophic factor improves cognitive performance; mood disorders have been observed in people with decreased levels of the protein. In fact, aerobic exercise plays a role in the release of neurotransmitters which are chemical messengers. One of these neurotransmitters is serotonin which improves mood when present at increased levels.