Exercise Helps Brains Bounce Back

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Could it be that because our ancestors were always naturally moving around a lot (all that hunting and gathering, for example), that our brains are adapted to feeling healthy when on the move, even moderately?
Gotta wonder.
You keep reading how everyone in modern society suffers from neck pains, aches, tension, and so forth, and yet life is so often done behind a desk in a cube (read: not exactly physically taxing activity). So, why are people all achey and stressed from sitting still??
Perhaps because our systems feel it's because we're not operating at an optimum level when not actually moving, like our ancestors did?
Just a theory, but it seems plausible. After all, it's been shown that modern humans cannot as easily digest processed foods as with whole foods, and that's because our ancestors were not adapted to survival on baked goods and food additive loaded tv dinners. So, why shouldn't it be true that NOT moving, even moderately, should make the system feel lousy, including affecting brain function?
Fascinating research, and a great science-in-the-public interest story from US News (as usual).

Angie Koutrotsios of IL 7:54PM October 20, 2009

Love the idea of forced exercise. If you tend to get de-motivated when you haven't been consistent (all-or-nothing mentality), but you really know, on some level, that even if it's just moderate exercise, it's still really good for you, then forced exercise is a great method.
Get a job that doesn't put you in a cube, behind a desk, for 50 hours a week (sales rep running around huge corporate complex parking lots while on the way to make sales calls, or jobs in humongous-sized department stores, running to and fro all day long). Best form of "forced" exercise there is.
Even moderate intensity, and you feel you have more stamina even when not doing something physical.

Angie Koutrotsios of IL 7:48PM October 20, 2009

My husband and I have a tandem bike. We ride 10 miles three times a week. I am "forced" to pedal at his level. We have read articles that this type of exercise is also neuroprotective, plus it gives us time doing something together.

Linda Armstrong of IN 11:28AM October 20, 2009