There is a huge and growing trend taking the country by storm. Everywhere you look, there are new puzzles and brain teaser books on every shelf. Newspapers and magazines includes sections dedicated to these time consuming activities. Why is there so much buzz about such a simple little distraction? The answer heard by most is "brain power". Brain power is the term that is used by many to describe the result of brain exercise. It seems that now, more than ever, people are looking for ways to stay one step ahead of the competition in the battle for cognitive strength.

Millions of people spend millions of dollars on puzzle books, like sudoku and crossword puzzles, in an attempt to increase their brain power. It has been a common belief for a long time that by exercising the brain with thought provoking riddles and puzzles that the brain's ability to remember and retain more knowledge and information would increase. Some even think that this kind of brain exercise helps them to increase the longevity of healthy and sharp brain function. Although this theory sounds reasonable, recent research is not supporting the long believed theory.

Some of the most current research is showing that the effects of physical exercise are having a more broad impact on the longevity of the brain's ability to retain information. Scientists are calling this type of memory and brain function the "executive function". This is, simply stated, the ability to make reasonable decisions even in the midst of distracting situations. This type of function, according to research, typically begins around the age of seventy and increases in degree as age increases. Research has also shown that people who have a regular exercise routine, or had had a consistent routine, do not suffer from a decline in executive function at the same rate.

It is the consensus of most all medical professionals that exercise is a beneficial activity for the optimum health of the physical body. It is only more recently that science is proving the positive effects of exercise on the brain. By incorporating a healthy exercise plan, the impact of dementia and Alzheimer's are reduced by slowing down the shrinking of the frontal cortex of the brain, an anomaly associated with aging. By reducing this shrinking, the brain is able to function closer to its optimal level. Physical exercise also increases the production and release of proteins that impact the connection and communication of neurons. This, alone, helps improve cognitive function.