Exercise, BDNF and the hippocampus
Aerobic training grew the memory center in older adults in a randomized trial, and exercise raises BDNF.
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Evidence grade: B (A strong, B good with gaps, C limited or mixed, D early)
The trial
In 120 older adults, a year of walking increased hippocampal volume by about 2%, while the stretching group lost volume, and fitness gains tracked memory gains [1].
BDNF
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor supports neuron growth. A meta-analysis found single exercise sessions and regular training both raised blood BDNF [2].
Sources
- Erickson et al. 2011, PNAS. doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1015950108
- Szuhany et al. 2015, J Psychiatr Res. doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2014.10.003
DOIs verified against Crossref and official pages checked on 2026-10-15.