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Exercising is good for the brain. New research reveals that being physically fit in childhood and adolescence benefits both physical and mental health.

Furthermore, exercise may also play an essential role in boosting brain health and academic performance.

Researchers believe that exercise helps boost enhances the brain by boosting cardiorespiratory capacity, muscular strength, and motor ability, which have been linked to both brain and academic performance.

"Because these physical fitness components are highly associated with each other, it is important to differentiate which physical fitness components are important in relation to academic performance," Irene Esteban-Cornejo, MSc, Autonomous University of Madrid, said in a news release.

The latest study involved 2,038 Spanish children and adolescents between the ages of six and eighteen 6-18 with complete data on physical fitness, body composition, and academic performance. Cardiorespiratory capacity and motor ability, both independently and combined, were both linked to academic performance.

"Having high levels of cardiorespiratory and motor fitness may, to some extent, reduce the risk of school failure," added Notes Esteban-Cornejo.

The findings were published in the Journal of Pediatrics.