A new study from Brigham Young University found that running doesn’t just support your heart and lungs — it can also protect your brain from the damaging effects of chronic stress. Over time, chronic stress can weaken the connections between brain cells — especially in the hippocampus, the area responsible for memory and learning. Normally, our brain strengthens those connections (called synapses) through something called long-term potentiation (or LTP for short). The researchers found that people under stress who exercised regularly had stronger brain connections and made fewer memory mistakes — compared to those who didn’t exercise. Lace up, get outside, and let your brain catch a break.