Why swimming is good for your brain as well as your body

Mar 28, 2014

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A small study by Howard Carter of the University of Western Australia School of Sport Science suggests that immersing the body in water to the level of the heart increases blood flow through the brain’s cerebral arteries, thus improving vascular health and cognitive function.

“Studies on the positive effect of exercise on heart health have been numerous, but we are taking a different angle and are interested in the link between heart and brain health,” says Carter. “To our knowledge, ours is the first examination of the effect of graded euthermic [warm] water immersion on cerebral blood flow.”

water photo Photo by steve.garner32