Do you want to improve your memory? Retrieve a name you can’t think of? Retain new information and be able to solve problems quicker? Well, there is a simple solution: exercise!

New studies have proven that exercising optimizes brain function and memory. One of the benefits is that, during exercise, the blood circulates through the body and brain more than while resting. Exercise is also known to reduce stress and depression, which allows the brain to focus on memory and function.

For the elderly who worry about memory loss, exercising can help as well. Elderly who exercise, such a walking, at least three times per week will be less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease, according to a study by the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Furthermore, companies are realizing that workers who exercise can increase productivity and show fewer signs of stress. Many bigger businesses now have their own fitness centers in their building, give extra time for their employees to exercise, or even pay memberships to health clubs.

With school starting in September some parents may want to consider following Dr. John Ratey’s advice.

“Exercise is like taking a little Prozac or a little Ritalin at just the right moment,” said Ratey, an associate professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. In his book “SPARK: The revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain”, he wrote about Zero Hour PE, which is working out before school begins in order to give kids a boost in reading ability. The emphasis is on fitness versus sport.

The amount of exercise needed for brain improvement is not clear however studies by Putnam have shown that exercising 15-45 minutes before school improved the behavior during class time. Typically, the effects last about 2-3 hours after stopping exercise.

Studies with mice have also suggested that exercise is responsible for growth of new cells that are important for learning and memory in addition to the added health benefits to their cardiovascular system.

Exercising is one of the best medicines for relieving stress, depression and improving brain power. Walking, running, bicycling or swimming are all aerobic type of activities that help stay in shape for the mind and the body. And, best of all, everybody can do it!