Menu
Dr. Weil Logo Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
  • Health & Wellness
    Health & Wellness
    Body, Mind & Spirit
    • Addiction
    • Allergy & Asthma
    • Autoimmune Disorders
    • Back Pain
    • Bone & Joint
    • Cancer
    • Colds & Flu
    • Dental & Oral
    • Diabetes
    • Disease & Disorders
    • Ears, Nose, & Throat
    • Feet
    • Gastrointestinal
    • Hair, Skin, & Nails
    • Headache
    • Heart
    • Insects & Parasites
    • Liver & Kidney
    • Mental Health
    • Pregnancy & Fertility
    • Respiratory
    • Sexual Health
    • Sleep Issues
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Vision
    Balanced Living
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Gardening
    • Healthy Home
    • Healthy Living
    • Meditation & Inspiration
    • Meet Dr. Weil
    • Pets & Pet Care
    • Technology
    • Wellness Therapies
    Health Centers
    • Aging Gracefully
    • Children
    • Condition Care Guide
    • Men
    • Women
  • Diet & Nutrition
    Diet & Nutrition
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet Pyramid
    Cooking & Cookware
    Healthy Cooking & Cookware
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Food Safety
    Diets & Nutrition - Food Safety
    Nutrition
    healthy nutrition
    Recipes
    healthy recipes
  • Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Herbs
    herbal remedies - herbs
    Supplements & Remedies
    suppliments & remedies
    Vitamins
    ask-dr-weil_vitamins-supplements-herbs_vitamins-topnav
  • Ask Dr. Weil
  • Blogs
    Blogs
    Bulletins
    The Legacy Of Living Yes | Spontaneous Happiness | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Health Tips
    Healthy Drinks To Start Sipping | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Spontaneous Happiness
    blog_spontaneous-happiness_topnav
  • COVID-19
  • Dr. Weil Origins Skin Care
  • Marketplace
  • Healthy Aging
  • Podcasts
  • Meet Dr. Weil
  • Accessibility
  • Subscribe
Learning A New Sport: Good For The Brain?
Subscribe
Press "Enter" to search
  1. Home
  2. Health & Wellness
  3. Health Centers
  4. Aging Gracefully

Learning A New Sport: Good For The Brain?

You’ve written that learning a new language or doing crossword puzzles is good for the brain. I’m wondering whether learning a new sport can also help prevent dementia.

Andrew Weil, M.D. |May 2, 2016

Portrait of a senior surfer holding his surfboard, being satisfied after a good surfing day
1 min

You raise a provocative question. The answer is: we don’t yet know, although some evidence suggests that taking up a new sport or activity in midlife could be even better for the aging brain than regular aerobic exercise. We do know that 30 minutes of aerobic activity most days of the week increases blood flow to the brain and can lower the likelihood of Alzheimer’s by 30 to 50 percent. In addition, animal studies have shown that physical activity can lead to creation of new cells in brain areas key to memory and thinking.

Some evidence suggests that learning a new physical skill as an adult can increase the volume of gray matter in brain areas related to movement control. A study from the University of Oxford published in 2009 found that learning to juggle brought about changes in white matter in the brain, the bundles of nerve fibers that connect different areas.

We also know something about the effect of learning a new type of physical activity from studies in mice. When adult animals were introduced to a different kind of exercise wheel, they had to change the way they were accustomed to running. This learning process led to increased myelination of neurons in the mouse motor cortex. (Myelin insulates nerve fibers to increase the speed of impulses.) The process of myelination was previously believed to occur only in infancy or childhood, but this study showed that it can take place in adults.

We don’t know yet whether or not the changes seen in the mouse brain occur in the humans, but it makes sense that learning new movements and motor skills challenge the brain, just as learning a new language or computer program can. And, of course, if you decide in midlife to learn to juggle, play tennis, swim, ride a bike, or dance the tango, you get the benefits of physical exercise as well as challenging your brain. Incidentally, table tennis has been called the number-one brain sport because it involves fine motor control and demands well-honed hand-eye coordination. What’s more, your brain is busy plotting strategy and anticipating your opponent’s next move.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

Sources:
C. Sampalo-Baptista et al, “Gray matter volume is associated with rate of subsequent skill learning after long term training intervention.” Neuroimage, August 2014 doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.03.056

I.A. McKenzie et al, “Motor skill learning requires active central myelination. Science, October 2014, doi: 10.1126/science.154960

Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging

Start Your 14-Day Free Trial

Free Newsletters

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Follow Dr. Weil’s Food Pyramid

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil's FREE health living advice delivered to you!

By clicking "Subscribe," you agree to the DrWeil.com Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive emails from DrWeil.com, and you may opt out of DrWeil.com subscriptions at any time.

Trending Now

Two Ways to Protect the Brain - Dr. Weil
Aging Gracefully

2 Ways To Protect The Brain

foods that promote healthy vision
Aging Gracefully

3 Foods That Promote Healthy Vision

3 Ways To Prepare For Lifelong Health | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Aging Gracefully

3 Ways To Prepare For Lifelong Health

Lovely modern dad enjoys the outdoors playing with his son on a white hammock
Aging Gracefully

4 Changes For Life Satisfaction

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
Information
  • About Us
  • Press Information
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage Email Subscription
Trending Articles
Two Ways to Protect the Brain - Dr. Weil
Aging Gracefully

2 Ways To Protect The Brain

foods that promote healthy vision
Aging Gracefully

3 Foods That Promote Healthy Vision

Daily Tips
Optimism & Gratitude: The Power Of Positive Thinking | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Health Tips

Optimism & Gratitude: The Power Of Positive Thinking

Start The Day With Grapefruit
Health Tips

3 Reasons To Eat Grapefruit

  • Flickr
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. Any third party offering or advertising on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil, M.D. or Healthy Lifestyle Brands.

©Copyright2023 Healthy Lifestyle Brands, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. www.drweil.com