Related: Are you drinking more in lockdown? 40 per cent of Australians are! Exercising makes nerve cells in the brain more active and increases dopamine levels – a ‘chemical messenger’ within the body that helps our brains to think and plan.
The study, which was carried out in Jonkoping and Linkoping universities in Sweden, also found that the brain had increased levels of a protein called 'brain-derived neurotrophic factor' after a short burst of moderate exercise.
So, taking time out for a simple two-minute walk can promote positive brain function for at least two hours, while more intense exercise has an even longer lasting effect on the brain.