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Jump for Joy and for Brain Health

It’s a fun workout you can do anywhere

By

Staying Sharp

Updated June 14, 2024

Updated June 14, 2024

A woman jumping rope casting a shadow on the wall behind her

Richard Hamilton Smith/Getty Images

Quick Win

Cardiovascular exercise has great benefits for the heart and brain.

Try This Today

Find an open area to allow plenty of space for jumping.
Start easy — jumping rope for 30 consecutive seconds.
As you continue daily, increase your time in 30-second increments as you are able.

Why

Chemicals released in the brain during cardiovascular exercise combat depression and help you feel better, according to a review of 58 studies published in 2023 in Sport Sciences for Health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that some benefits of physical activity on brain health, including improved cognitive function and reduced anxiety, start right after a session of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Jumping rope is a fun and convenient way to exercise — anytime, indoors or outside. After six months of supervised aerobic exercise, 206 adults in their late 50s to early 70s showed improvements in cognition, including executive function (the ability to do things like managing time and planning), according to a 2020 report in Neurology.

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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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