The benefits of movement for prevention of dementia are crucial. Some studies show that the area of the brain responsible for storing memories - the hippocampus - can actually grow in response to exercise (1&2*)
Another study of 120 elderly people showed this hippocampul tissue growth in the brain was connected to being able to achieve better memory scores simply from walking for 40 minutes just 3 times a week for a year. The brains of the comparison group shrank over the course of the year. (3*)
How could this happen?
Increased blood flow to the brain is a crucial benefit from moving our body, but exercise also helps neuronal growth and enhances connections between neurone by stimulating an important gene called the BDNF gene (brain-derived neurotrophic factor). (9*)
BDNF stimulates the growth and differentiation of neurone and synapses. It thrives in the areas of the brain that are important for learning and memory.
Studies:
(6): Pajonk, F.-G., Wobrock, T., Gruber, O., et al., 'Hippocampal plasticity in response to exercise in schizophrenia.' Archives of General Psychiatry, 67(2), (2010): 133-43
(7): Erickson, K. I., Voss, M. W., Prakesh, R. S., et al., 'Exercise training increases size of hippocampus and improves memory.' Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, 108(7), (2011): 3017-22.
(8): Dery, N., Pilgrim, M., Gibala, M., et al, 'Adult hippocampal and neurogenesis reduces memory interference in humans: opposing effects of aerobic exercise and depression.' Frontiers in neuroscience, 7 , (2013):66.
(9): Xu, V., 'BDNF (I)rising from exercise.' Cell Metabolism, 18(5), (2013): 612-14.
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Head of Electrophysiology Expertise Unit bij VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research
2moVery cool, Esther. It's going to be an exciting time.