ABSTRACT
The number of research studies focused on the effects of physical activity participation on scholastic achievement and cognitive health has grown exponentially since the beginning of the 21st century. This chapter highlights some of the limitations of the existing research and provides recommendations for future directions. One necessary future direction is the fusion of basic laboratory science with applied, real-world environments. On the one hand, laboratory studies, designed to establish relationships using internally valid methods, have determined that physical activity is related to select aspects of brain and cognition. Several recent randomized controlled trials have investigated physical activity effects on brain and cognition, additional research is needed to expand the knowledge base on the extent to which physical activity and other health behaviours may effect change. Among the risk factors that have been associated with and indirectly related to cognitive performance are physical inactivity, poor physical fitness, obesity and high blood pressure.
