We all know about the physical benefits of running (which come at the minor cost of time and PAIN, SO MUCH PAIN!), and we’ve all heard about the psychological benefits, the improved mood and general “good feeling” that comes with having a run behind you.

However, the benefits don’t end there — running and exercise can actually change the structure and function of your brain for the better. As it turns out, the secret to staying sharp into old age may be a brisk walk or jog to go along with that daily scrabble game.

Research has shown that consistent aerobic exercise (the kind that makes you breathe hard, not the stretching) actually leads to greater levels of activation in parts of the cortex associated with attention.

Additionally, exercise has been linked to improved nerve growth in the hippocampus, the area of the brain associated with memory. Lab rats that exercised performed better on memory tasks than those that did not, and college students who exercised did better on recall and comprehension for a vocabulary task (note the student/lab rat parallel).

So if you feel like you need a little extra in terms of “focus,” maybe it’s time to hit the gym instead of taking that second nap.

While it might not pertain to most college-age students, studies have shown that exercise can be beneficial in preventing age-related mental declines. Older adults generally see shrinkage in the hippocampus, areas of the prefrontal cortices and parts of the corpus callosum, which connects the halves of the brain. However, exercise has been shown to not only prevent these declines, but to encourage increased grey matter volume in areas where decline is typically seen.

In general, exercise increases levels of growth factors in the brain, which encourages the formation of new connections and the growth of neurons.

So remember the next time you are out for a run: it’s not just to make up for that package of (oh-so-delicious) peanut butter Oreos that you ate, it’s for your brain too.