Aerobic Exercise, Depression, and BDNF

Byron's Comments:

Aerobics prommotes brain rejuvenation and a better mood.

Study Title:

The Aging Hippocampus: Interactions between Exercise, Depression, and BDNF.

Study Abstract:

Late adulthood is associated with increased hippocampal atrophy and dysfunction. Although there are multiple paths by which hippocampal deterioration occurs in late life, the authors discuss the evidence that a single nucleotide polymorphism in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene and age-related changes in BDNF protein or receptor expression contribute to hippocampal atrophy. The authors conclude that few studies have tested whether BDNF mediates age-related hippocampal atrophy and memory impairment. However, there is strong evidence that decreased BDNF is associated with age-related hippocampal dysfunction, memory impairment, and increased risk for depression, whereas increasing BDNF by aerobic exercise appears to ameliorate hippocampal atrophy, improve memory function, and reduce depression. Importantly, the most consistent associations between BDNF and hippocampal dysfunction have emerged from research on BDNF protein expression in rodents and serum and plasma concentrations of BDNF in humans. Current research suggests that the BDNF val66met polymorphism may be only weakly associated with hippocampal atrophy in late adulthood. These conclusions are interpreted in relation to age-related memory impairment and preventions for hippocampal atrophy.

Study Information:

Erickson KI, Miller DL, Roecklein KA. The Aging Hippocampus: Interactions between Exercise, Depression, and BDNF. Neuroscientist.   2011 April  
Department of Psychology, and The Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.

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