Typically, the festive period sees various ‘brain training’ games and gizmos come back into vogue as cerebral stocking fillers, but it may well be that a gym membership is the greatest gift for getting smarter this Christmas.

According to new research published in the journal Brain Plasticity, exercise can enhance the development of new brain cells in the adult brain – a process called adult neurogenesis – which play an important role in learning and memory. The study has determined that mice that which spent time running on wheels not only developed twice the normal number of new neurons, but also showed an increased ability to distinguish new objects from familiar objects.

“Our research indicates that exercise-induced increase in neurogenesis improves pattern separation by supporting unique and detailed long-term representations of similar but nevertheless different memory items,” explained lead investigator Josef Bischofberger, PhD, from the University of Basel.

“Pattern separation is involved in many memory tasks of everyday life. For example, when learning the game of chess, it is critically important to remember the different shapes of pieces like the pawn and bishop. Similarly, remembering the precise pattern of pieces on the board during a previously successful opening or endgame may decide who will win or lose.”

In the paper, the scientists conclude that running is perhaps the best form of exercise for boosting brain cells, adding that ‘exercise is a simple, low-cost intervention that promotes cognition and mood, protects against damage associated with neurodegeneration, and may alleviate drug addiction in humans.’

The findings serve to further underline the importance of exercise in relation to ageing. They follow findings from the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) that raising fitness levels in later life can boost brain function. The research indicated that the intensity of the exercise appeared to matter more than the duration, backing up previous conclusions. Meanwhile, scientists in Japan recently concluded that regular exercise can help the brain hold back the sands of time and perform in the same way as it did in years gone by.