Improving Brain Health Through Aquatic Exercise

The value of aquatic activity in health promotion has been known for centuries, but only recently has research demonstrated the many ways that such activity dramatically affects the brain and central nervous system. Aquatic immersion and exercise increases brain blood flow, even while lowering blood pressure overall. It also lowers sympathetic nervous system activity, tending to create a reduction in stress responses. Even more dramatically aquatic activity seems to facilitate an improvement in cognitive function in both mild and severe dementia.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the effect of aquatic immersion and exercise upon the brain.
• Describe the probable reasons for these effects.
• Strategize ways to utilize this information at both personal and community levels.