Walking to school could be good for the brain
WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 2013 10:03 AM

Some children ride a bus to school and others walk. Based on the results of a recent University of Granada study, a lengthy walk to school can have the biggest effect on adolescent girls' classroom performance.

In the study, which appears in "Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine," researchers looked at data on 1,700 Spanish students between the ages of 13 and 18, including the ways in which they came and left school every day, as well as how long of a journey it was.

The researchers found that girls whose walk to school took at least 15 minutes had better cognitive performance than those who made shorter treks to class. According to the study, this healthy habit ensures that students stay active every day and promotes participation in physical activities, such as sports.

"This boosts the expenditure of energy and, all in all, leads to a better state of health," the study's authors wrote.

As a result, parents who allow their children to walk to school may want to have them take an IQ test for kids. After all, this daily exercise could be boosting their brainpower.