1. Romain Meeusen PhD
Dept. Human Physiology Vrije Universiteit Brussel
School Of Public Health, Tropical Medicine &
Rehabilitation Sciences, James Cook University,
Queensland, Australia

3. — RCT : 1 yr physical activity or stretching
— 2 x 60 subjects
— Mean age 65.6 – 67.5yr
— 40 min of walking 2-3/Wk or stretching
è measuring Brain volume (MRI)
Erickson et al 2011

4. Hippocampus remains plastic in late adulthood
Erickson et al 2011

5. Aerobic Fitness
è Positive relation
with academic
performance
BMI è Negative
relation
Relevant neural
networks
è Prefrontal Cortex
è Parietal/Posterior
Cingulate Cortex
Hillman et al 2008

6. Associated with aerobic fitness
Chaddock et al 2010

7. Hillman et al, 2014
— N= 221
— 7-9yr
— 9 month intervertion RCT (waiting list)
— Measuring Brain Activity - ERP
— Accuracy & reaction time (executive control)

8. Hillman et al, 2014
— Fitness ↑
— Cognitive tests ↑
— Attention ↑
— Cognitive flexibility ↑
— P3 amplitude ↑ for conditions that require great
amount of executive control
— Flexibility of Brain Functions

9. What are the mechanisms ?
Animal & Human studies


10. Neurogenesis = production of new nerve cells
è Important during development ?

11. Is the most abundant neurotrophin in the brain
ègrowth factor within the brain
It enhances the growth and maintenance of several neural
systems
Serves as a neurotransmitter modulator
Participates in use-dependent plasticity mechanisms
BDNF expression is diminished in Alzheimer’s disease

12. Enhances the survival of ‘newborn’ neurons = cell
proliferation
Or in neurogenesis (4 weeks old cells)
One day 4 weeks

14. 60 min @ 55%Wattmax + TT @ 75% Wattmax
0
40
80
120
160
Rest 60min at 55% TT at 75% Recovery
Serum BDNF (% increase)
*
*
§
Goekint et al 2008, 2011, Bos et al 2013, 2014

15. — Depends on the exercise intensity & duration
— Exercise increases peripheral BDNF
— Dose response to intensity

16. Torbeyns, Meeusen et al 2014, 2015

17. — Exercise is good for the Brain
— BDNF : most abundant neurotrophin in the
brain
— Acute exercise :
¡ Dose response increase
— Training : brain changes, learning & memory