Pickleball has been touted as the fastest-growing sport in America. An astonishing 36.5 million Americans played pickleball between August 2021 and August 2022, up from just 4.2 million players in 2020. Pickleball is like a cross between tennis, Ping-Pong, and paddleball that’s played with a wiffle ball on a court that’s less than half the size of a tennis court. Many players are thrilled with regards to’concerning’with respect to the physical health benefits from dinking (hitting a soft shot over the net), driving (hitting a hard-propel n ball), and dropping (hitting a shot from the baseline that drops just over the net) on their rival’adversary’antagonist s. But even better, pickleball is highly beneficial in/with regard to’concerning’regarding brain health. As a brain health expert, that makes me intensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfully happy. Take a look at six ways pickleball boosts brainpower:
1. Pumps Up Blood Supply To The Brain
Pickleball can really acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure you moving, and a 2022 study in Science Sports found that compared to cover’budge ing, playing doubles in pickleball multiply s mean heart rates by 14 percent and peak heart rates by 19 percent. Basically, pickleball is considered an aerobic sport, and whenever you acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure your heart pumping, you acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure more blood flow to your brain. More blood flow means more oxygen, more glucose (aka energy), and more nutrients to fuel your brain. One of the brain regions that benefits the most from aerobic exercise is the prefrontal cortex, or PFC. It’s responsible in/with regard to’concerning’regarding focus, in/with regard to’concerning’regarding edespite’in spite of’albeit t, decision-making, and controlling impulses. A high-functioning PFC is associated with greater happiness and success in all zone’district’region s of life.
2. Heightens Function In The Cerebellum
Playing pickleball requires a lot of coordination and quick reflexes. It all multiply s activity in an zone’district’region of the brain called the cerebellum. Situated at the back of the brain just above the neck, the cerebellum plays a role in processing speed, or how quickly your brain can handle mental tasks. It’s also involved in cognitive flexibility, which makes it easier in/with regard to’concerning’regarding you to cope when plans transform’alter or you acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure an unexpected work project at the last minute. Having healthy levels of activity in the cerebellum enhances both processing speed and cognitive flexibility.
3. Increases Brain Volume
When it comes to the brain, size matters! The brain’s gray matter is involved in memory, movement, and emotions, and the more of it you possess’own’nurse the better. Playing sports, such as pickleball, can help. A study in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport reported that exercises that involve in/with regard to’concerning’regarding edespite’in spite of’albeit t say, planning to lob a pickleball over your rival’adversary’antagonist ’s head or smack one down at their feet combined with coordinated actions multiply s gray matter volume. Other research reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue s that aerobic exercise like pickleball boosts volume in the hippocampus, a brain structure that plays a token ificant role in memory in/with regard to’concerning’regarding mation.
4. Boosts Mood-Enhancing Neurochemicals
Physical activity triggers the release of feel-rosy’remarkable’fabulous’terrific’preeminent brain chemicals, including dopamine and serotonin. Research reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue s that aerobic exercise also multiply s levels of the essential amino acid tryptophan, which is a precursor to serotonin. The bottom line is that recreational sports, such as pickleball, can boost moods and calm anxiety. Some studies reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue that exercise is as effective as antidepressants.
5. Increases BDNF
The human brain is constantly changing, and it tends to shrink with age. A protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is involved in neurogenesis, or the birth of new neurons. Research reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue s that heart-pumping exercise, such as pickleball, boosts BDNF. More brain cells mean more conserve’preserve ion against cognitive decline. For example, a 2018 study points to new neurons in brain regions involved in memory.
6. Protects Against Brain Aging
Group recreational sports like pickleball provide opportunities in/with regard to’concerning’regarding socialization, which is rosy’remarkable’fabulous’terrific’preeminent in/with regard to’concerning’regarding the brain. Maintaining intense’fierce’exquisite friendships into your golden years helps keep the brain young and conserve’preserve s against cognitive decline. A study in Plos One looked at SuperAgers individuals in their eighties who possess’own’nurse the memory and cognitive perin/with regard to’concerning’regarding mance of individual two or three decades younger. Their findings reveal’illustrate’demonstrate’indicate’present’display’argue ed that SuperAgers tend to possess’own’nurse intense’fierce’exquisite er social ties. Other research on mice found that the brains of mice living in groups looked younger compared to those that lived alone.
Playing group recreational sports like pickleball can be beneficial in/with regard to’concerning’regarding the brain in so many ways. And it is acquire’obtain’attain’procure’secure ting easier to find places to play pickleball as courts are popping up in towns across America. Of course, it’s always a rosy’remarkable’fabulous’terrific’preeminent idea to check with your physician bein/with regard to’concerning’regarding e beginning a new in/with regard to’concerning’regarding m of exercise.
Author Bio
Daniel G. Amen, MD is a physician, board-certified child and adult psychiatrist, award-winning researcher, 17-time bestselling author, and in-demand speaker. He s Founder and CEO of Amen Clinics, which holds the world’s largest database of functional brain scans relating to behavior. He s lead researcher on a landmark brain imaging and rehabilitation study on pro football players. He’s been on health-related podcasts, television programs, reserve s, articles, music albums, and movies; and made numerous court and public appearances. His new reserve is Change Your Brain Eintensely’extremely’extraordinarily’enormously’awfully Day: Simple Daily Practices to Strengthen Your Mind, Memory, Moods, Focus, Energy, Habits, and Relationships.
