Summary: Exercise increases the size of the left region of the hippocampus, an area of the brain critical for memory, a new study reveals.

Source: Western Sydney University.

In a first of its kind international collaboration, researchers from Australia’s National Institute of Complementary Medicine (opens in new window)Opens in a new window at Western Sydney University and the Division of Psychology and Mental Health at the University of Manchester in the UK examined the effects of aerobic exercise on a region of the brain called the hippocampus, which is critical for memory and other brain functions.

Brain health decreases with age, with the average brain shrinking by approximately five per cent per decade after the age of 40.

Studies in mice and rats have consistently shown that physical exercise increases the size of the hippocampus but until now evidence in humans has been inconsistent.

The researchers systematically reviewed 14 clinical trials which examined the brain scans of 737 people before and after aerobic exercise programs or in control conditions.

The participants included a mix of healthy adults, people with mild cognitive impairment such as Alzheimer’s and people with a clinical diagnosis of mental illness including depression and schizophrenia. Ages ranged from 24 to 76 years with an average age of 66.

The researchers examined effects of aerobic exercise, including stationary cycling, walking, and treadmill running. The length of the interventions ranged from three to 24 months with a range of 2-5 sessions per week.

Overall, the results – published in the journal NeuroImage– showed that, while exercise had no effect on total hippocampal volume, it did significantly increase the size of the left region of the hippocampus in humans.

Lead author, NICM postdoctoral research fellow, Joseph Firth said the study provides some of the most definitive evidence to date on the benefits of exercise for brain health.

“When you exercise you produce a chemical called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which may help to prevent age-related decline by reducing the deterioration of the brain,” Mr Firth said.

“Our data showed that, rather than actually increasing the size of the hippocampus per se, the main ‘brain benefits’ are due to aerobic exercise slowing down the deterioration in brain size. In other words, exercise can be seen as a maintenance program for the brain.”

Mr Firth said along with improving regular ‘healthy’ ageing, the results have implications for the prevention of ageing-related neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and dementia – however further research is needed to establish this.

Interestingly, physical exercise is one of the very few ‘proven’ methods for maintaining brain size and functioning into older age.

About this neuroscience research article

Source: Western Sydney University

Publisher: Organized by NeuroscienceNews.com.

Image Source: NeuroscienceNews.com image is adapted from the Western Sydney University news release.

Original Research: Full open access research for “Effect of aerobic exercise on hippocampal volume in humans: A systematic review and meta-analysis” by Joseph Firth, Brendon Stubbs, Davy Vancampfort, Felipe Schuch, Jim Lagopoulos, Simon Rosenbaum, and Philip B. Ward in NeuroImage. Published online November 4 2017 doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.11.007

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[cbtabs][cbtab title=”MLA”]Western Sydney University “Exercise Increases Brain Size.” NeuroscienceNews. NeuroscienceNews, 13 November 2017.

<https://neurosciencenews.com/exercise-brain-size-7928/>.[/cbtab][cbtab title=”APA”]Western Sydney University (2017, November 13). Exercise Increases Brain Size. NeuroscienceNews. Retrieved November 13, 2017 from https://neurosciencenews.com/exercise-brain-size-7928/[/cbtab][cbtab title=”Chicago”]Western Sydney University “Exercise Increases Brain Size.” https://neurosciencenews.com/exercise-brain-size-7928/ (accessed November 13, 2017).[/cbtab][/cbtabs]

Abstract

Effect of aerobic exercise on hippocampal volume in humans: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Hippocampal volume increase in response to aerobic exercise has been consistently observed in animal models. However, the evidence from human studies is equivocal. We undertook a systematic review to identify all controlled trials examining the effect of aerobic exercise on the hippocampal volumes in humans, and applied meta-analytic techniques to determine if aerobic exercise resulted in volumetric increases. We also sought to establish how volume changes differed in relation to unilateral measures of left/right hippocampal volume, and across the lifespan. A systematic search identified 4398 articles, of which 14 were eligible for inclusion in the primary analysis. A random-effects meta-analysis showed no significant effect of aerobic exercise on total hippocampal volume across the 737 participants. However, aerobic exercise had significant positive effects on left hippocampal volume in comparison to control conditions. Post-hoc analyses indicated effects were driven through exercise preventing the volumetric decreases which occur over time. These results provide meta-analytic evidence for exercise-induced volumetric retention in the left hippocampus. Aerobic exercise interventions may be useful for preventing age-related hippocampal deterioration and maintaining neuronal health.

“Effect of aerobic exercise on hippocampal volume in humans: A systematic review and meta-analysis” by Joseph Firth, Brendon Stubbs, Davy Vancampfort, Felipe Schuch, Jim Lagopoulos, Simon Rosenbaum, and Philip B. Ward in NeuroImage. Published online November 4 2017 doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.11.007

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