Hobbies that Make You Smarter

3. Get Sporty

We all know the stereotype of the dumb jock, but the truth is, playing sports or any kind of focused physical activity can make you smarter. Studies show physical activity increases cognitive function in children and adults, and keeping active throughout adulthood is associated with staying sharp and healthy in old age. There are several reasons sports can improve brain function and make you smarter. For one thing, physical exertion leads to higher oxygen intake, which improves brain function overall. Exercise also increases the brain chemical BDNF or brain-derived neurotrophic function. BDNF keeps your neurons and neuronal pathways healthy, and allows you to create new ones. In other words, the connections between areas of your brain get stronger, and your thinking and analyzing abilities increase.