The Brain Is a Muscle, Too: Exercise Maintains Brain Size

Aerobic exercise may prevent age-related decreases in hippocampal volume, according to the findings of a recent meta-analysis.

For their systematic review, the researchers assessed whether aerobic exercise was associated with hippocampal volume by using data from 14 controlled trials, which included 737 participants who underwent brain scans before and after they exercised (mean age, 66 years).
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Aerobic exercise included stationary cycling, walking, and treadmill running, and the length of these interventions ranged from 2 to 5 sessions per week for 3 to 24 months. Additionally, the researchers examined whether volume changes differed in relation to unilateral measures of right and left hippocampal volume and across the lifespan of participants.

While random-effects analysis did not show a significant effect of aerobic exercise on total hippocampal volume, the researchers found a significant positive effect in left hippocampal volume. This positive effect appeared to be driven by exercise, which protected against aged-related declines in hippocampal volume.

“These results provide meta-analytic evidence for exercise-induced volumetric retention in the left hippocampus,” the researchers concluded. “Aerobic exercise interventions may be useful for preventing age-related hippocampal deterioration and maintaining neuronal health.”

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Firth J, Stubbs B, Vancampfort D, et al. Effect of aerobic exercise on hippocampal volume in humans: a systematic review and meta-analysis [published online November 4, 2017]. NeuroImage. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.11.007.