Scientists using mice in their research have discovered that love-making greatly increases the creation of neurons located within the hippocampus, part of the brain responsible for the formation of long-term memory.And stopping the mice from having sex led to a fall-off in their intelligence, psychologists from the University of Maryland found.But a boost in brain cells isn't the only reason to get it on.Scientists have discovered a whole range of plus points to an active sex life (apart from the obvious).Sex makes you look youngerDr David Weeks, clinical neuropsychologist at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital, says his research found older men and women with an active love life looked five to seven years younger than their actual age.And you don't have to be at it every night to enjoy the youthful boost. Dr Weeks found that quality was just as important as quantity, with the anti-ageing benefits stronger if the sex was “loving”.It keeps you fitA Canadian study last month found that half-an-hour of sexual activity could burn more calories than walking on a treadmill.The study measured the sexual activity of 21 couple aged between 18 and 35, monitoring them using an armband to calculate how many calories were burned and the intensity of the activity.In a typical session lasting 25 minutes, men burned an average of 100 calories, the women 69. That is roughly the same as playing doubles tennis or walking uphill for 20 minutes, 33 minutes on a golf driving range or 40 minutes of yoga.Lowers men's cancer riskThe good news for men - for older men, anyway - is that regular sex may be linked to a lower risk of prostate cancer, according to a study from Nottingham University.The study asked 840 men about their sexual history. Those who kept up a regular sex life in their 50s – ejaculating more than 10 times a month – were at a lower risk or prostate cancer.It could cure headachesThe age-old excuse of a headache may now be obsolete as research has found that orgasms in women might actually get rid of headaches. Apparently orgasm is associated with an upsurge of blood flow in the brain which could reduce headaches.Sex boosts your moodA study published in the Archives of Sexual Behaviour found young women felt more depressed the longer they hadn't had sex.Stuart Brody, Professor of psychology specialising in sexual behaviour at the University of West Scotland says that the absorption of hormones in semen could help improve the mood of women.And Professor Brody's team also found that sex is a stress reliever. They studied a group of German adults and found that those who had sex at least once in two weeks were better able to manage the stress of public speaking and recorded lower blood pressure in response to stressful situations.Boosts your self-esteemA survey taken at the University of Texas found that people who had sex more regularly felt more confident about their bodies.Could prevent a heart attackLots of studies have found that sex could actually prevent heart attacks rather than bring them on.Researchers at Queen's University in Belfast found that having sex three times a week could halve your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.While a study in Israel found that women who had two orgasms a week were up to 30 per cent less likely to suffer from heart disease as those who did not enjoy sex or have an orgasm.Sex sets you up for the dayPeople who enjoy a bit or morning passion are more upbeat for the rest of the day and also have a stronger immune system than those who decide to have an extra snooze instead of a smooch.American scientists Dr Debby Herbenick found that adults who made love first thing in the morning enjoyed a mood boost that carried right through until night time.(mirror.co.uk)ANN.Az