For many people, the idea of exercising conjures up images of lengthy runs or awkward group fitness classes.

But a new study suggests that exercising for just two minutes a day can help to boost your learning and memory.

Researchers from Jönköping University in Sweden found that a single exercise workout has positive effects on learning and memory in young adults.

Dr Peter Blomstrand, co-author of the study, said: “Exercise makes you smart.”

In the study, the researchers reviewed 13 previous studies into the benefits of exercising.

The types of exercise that were studied include walking, running and cycling in participants aged 18 to 35.

Just two minutes a day can help to boost your learning and memory (
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The results revealed that just two minutes of exercise at moderate to high intensity improved attention, concentration, learning and memory for up to two hours.

While the reason for this link remains unclear, the team hopes the findings will encourage young adults to exercise more regularly.

In their study, published in Translational Sports Medicine, the researchers added: “This systematic review strongly suggests that aerobic, physical exercise followed by a brief recovery before encoding improves attention, concentration, and learning and memory functions in young adults.

“The results of this review may have important education‐related implications. Identifying optimal exercise strategies may help students to enhance their learning and memory.”

The findings come shortly after a study revealed that regularly exercising can actually reduce your risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) - a deadly complication of coronavirus.

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Researchers from the University of Virginia say their findings ‘strongly support’ the possibility that exercise can prevent, or at least reduce, the severity of ARDS.

As it stands, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that up to 42% of patients hospitalised for COVID-19 will develop ARDS.

Dr Zhen Yan, who led the study, said: “All you hear now is either social distancing or ventilator, as if all we can do is either avoiding exposure or relying on a ventilator to survive if we get infected.

“The flip side of the story is that approximately 80% of confirmed COVID-19 patients have mild symptoms with no need of respiratory support. The question is why.

“Our findings about an endogenous antioxidant enzyme provide important clues and have intrigued us to develop a novel therapeutic for ARDS caused by COVID-19.”