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Some of the smartest people you know may be sharpened their minds in a surprising way: by having sex! The finding comes from a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Maryland, who say that having sex, shockingly, might make us more intelligent.
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In their study of mice, they found that sex boosted neurons in the hippocampus, the area of the brain that holds our long-term memories. Not only did sex sharpen the mind, the researchers say that when the mice were prevented from having sex (poor mice!), they saw a decline in cognitive function.
Clearly, we're not rodents, but the ever-growing list of health benefits associated with sex piques our interest.
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In fact, a recent study from researchers in South Korea says that sex floods the brain with oxygen, which makes us more intellectual. And past research indicates that couples who remain sexually active into their elderly years are less likely to suffer from dementia and other forms of cognitive decline. So, go ahead—say yes tonight!