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Pedal Power: Getting Started

Improve your brain health through bike riding

By

Staying Sharp

Updated June 14, 2024

Updated June 14, 2024

A group of women on exercise bikes in a gym

Yellow Dog/Getty Images

Quick Win

Riding a bike is good exercise for brain health and happiness.

Try This Today

To begin, plan to spend 10–15 minutes at a time pedaling. You can use a stationary bike at the gym or your own bike outdoors.
Focus on getting used to the activity. Don’t overdo it; stop before you feel exerted or sore.
Each time you ride, increase your time by 2–3 minutes, gradually building up to 30-minute rides two times a week.

Why

According to AARP’s Global Council on Brain Health, purposeful exercise at moderate physical exertion to raise your heartrate (e.g. cycling, jogging, running, swimming laps, group exercise classes) — provides many benefits for brain health.

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Legal Disclaimer: Staying Sharp, including all content and features, is offered for informational purposes and to educate users on brain health care and medical issues that may affect their daily lives. Staying Sharp is based on a holistic, lifestyle approach to brain health that encourages users to incorporate into their daily lives activities that are associated with general wellness. Nothing in the service should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Features including the Cognitive Assessment and Lifestyle Check-Ins, Additional Tests, exercises, and challenges assess performance at a particular moment in time on certain discrete cognitive tasks. Staying Sharp games are intended for entertainment and recreational purposes only. Various factors may affect performance, including sleep, tiredness, focus, and other social, environmental, or emotional factors. Performance is not indicative of cognitive health and not predictive of future performance or medical conditions.

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