Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
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Home > Exercise training increases size of hippocampus and improves memory.

TitleExercise training increases size of hippocampus and improves memory.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2011
AuthorsErickson, KI, Voss, MW, Prakash, RShaurya, Basak, C, Szabo, A, Chaddock, L, Kim, JS, Heo, S, Alves, H, White, SM, Wojcicki, TR, Mailey, E, Vieira, VJ, Martin, SA, Pence, BD, Woods, JA, McAuley, E, Kramer, AF
JournalProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
Volume108
Issue7
Pagination3017-22
Date Published2011 Feb 15
ISSN1091-6490
KeywordsAged, Aging, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Exercise, Hippocampus, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Memory, Middle Aged, Organ Size, Space Perception
Abstract

The hippocampus shrinks in late adulthood, leading to impaired memory and increased risk for dementia. Hippocampal and medial temporal lobe volumes are larger in higher-fit adults, and physical activity training increases hippocampal perfusion, but the extent to which aerobic exercise training can modify hippocampal volume in late adulthood remains unknown. Here we show, in a randomized controlled trial with 120 older adults, that aerobic exercise training increases the size of the anterior hippocampus, leading to improvements in spatial memory. Exercise training increased hippocampal volume by 2%, effectively reversing age-related loss in volume by 1 to 2 y. We also demonstrate that increased hippocampal volume is associated with greater serum levels of BDNF, a mediator of neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus. Hippocampal volume declined in the control group, but higher preintervention fitness partially attenuated the decline, suggesting that fitness protects against volume loss. Caudate nucleus and thalamus volumes were unaffected by the intervention. These theoretically important findings indicate that aerobic exercise training is effective at reversing hippocampal volume loss in late adulthood, which is accompanied by improved memory function.

DOI10.1073/pnas.1015950108
Alternate JournalProc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.
PubMed ID21282661
PubMed Central IDPMC3041121
Grant ListP30 AG024827 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P30 AG024827 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
P50 AG005133 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG25032 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG25667 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R37 AG025667 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
Top50 Topics: 
Physiology
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Source URL: https://www.j-alz.com/content/exercise-training-increases-size-hippocampus-and-improves-memory