7 Healthcast: Jogging your memory

Health experts have long touted the benefits of hitting the gym or staying active.

"It's a no-brainer, we know that exercise is something everyone should try to incorporate," Elisa Zied, of the American Dietetic Association said.

Now, a new study conducted at Columbia University Medical Center suggests exercise may improve a person's memory.

The Researchers were the first to track brain cells within a living brain in an attempt to identify the part most affected by exercise.

Doctors found exercise targets the region associated with the age-related memory decline that usually begins at age 30.

"We've known for a long time you get this burst of energy and feel-good chemicals when you exercise, so its not that much of a stretch that it is actually going to preserve your mental function as you get older," Zied said.

Doctors say the next step is finding out the benefits of specific exercises and tailoring a workout regimen to stop memory loss in its tracks--no matter what the age.

Participants of the study who were physically active ended up doing better on memory tests than people who didn't exercise. Many health and nutrition experts say it is one more reason to get moving.

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