Mark Hamer, Ph.D. of the University College London and his colleagues in the British Journal of Sports Medicine said that 20 minutes of constant exercise every week, be it cleaning or jogging, can impact upon depression.
The effect will be greater if the activity is frequently done and is more strenuous. This was derived from a population-based study.
Physical movements have been connected to dementia, depression and cognitive decline. However, according to the researchers, how much activity and what type is most suitable for mental health remained unclear.
Domestic activities, like doing household chores and gardening, was linked with 24 per cent lower probability of psychological distress.
Generally, the advantage of doing physical activities could be the reduced biological stress reactivity. At the same time, biological risk factors such as inflammation, glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia, and vascular dysfunction, which have been associated with mental health disorders like depression and dementia, may also be improved by exercise.
