Aerobic exercise and its effect on brain volume
As we age, the health of our brain deteriorates. In fact our brain shrinks as we age with an average shrinkage of five percent per decade.
Studies in mice have shown that consistent exercise increases the size of the hippocampus – a region of the brain critical for memory and other brain functions.
But studies in humans have produced inconclusive results until now.
The results showed that exercise did not have an effect on the total volume of the hippocampus but did significantly increase the size of the left region of the hippocampus compared to control conditions.
A new first-of-its-kind study in collaboration with researchers from Australia and UK shows that aerobic exercise can affect the hippocampus and improve memory function while maintaining the health of our brain.
The team of 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 people with good health, those who suffered from mild cognitive impairment and people diagnosed with mental illness including depression and schizophrenia. Ages of the participants ranged from 24 to 76 years with an average of 66 years.
The researchers examined the effects of aerobic exercise along with the effects of stationary cycling, walking and running.
Sessions ranged from two to five sessions per week and from three to 24 months of exercise intervention.
The results showed that exercise did not have an effect on the total volume of the hippocampus but did significantly increase the size of the left region of the hippocampus compared to control conditions.
The study shows that instead of increasing the overall size of the hippocampus, aerobic exercise slows down the deterioration of the brain and thus maintains the health of our brain.
This study has implications for aerobic induced interventions which can be used to slow down and prevent age-related neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and dementia – but further research is necessary for that.
In the meantime, start with a glass of beetroot juice as reported earlier and boost your aerobic exercise performance – which can help you slow down ageing by maintaining your brain health, and keeping you physically fit as well.
Source: NeuroImage
