description
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.
subject terms
Aging & Longevity > Health: Brain & Mental
Aging & Longevity > Health: Physical
Aging & Longevity > Vitality & Wellness
contributors
C. Basak
K. Erikson
R. Prakash
M. Voss
related organization
National Academy of Sciences