As if we all don't need another good reason to engage in regular exercise, U.S. researchers reported yesterday that exercise boosts brainpower by building new brain cells. In fact, the new brain cells are built in an area of the brain linked with memory and memory loss. As our very own Rigel adds here, boosting brainpower can be the result of a frequent dose of exercise, and even specific workout routines can be prescribed to specific patients for the most optimal results. I agree completely.

What does this mean? To me, it says that brain cells are organized in a better fashion (over time) as a result of exercise that allows better memory retention -- which is definitely a plus to those who have to remember large and small details all day long for school, work, kids, home, car, shopping, etc. In other words, almost every one of us.

The findings were determined by studying mice, who grew new brain cells in a brain region called the dentate gyrus. Researchers MRI scans to help document the process in mice -- and then used MRIs to look at the brains of people before and after exercise. Low and behold, they found that people also grow new brain cells when they exercise as a main conclusion of the research.