The document discusses a randomized controlled trial that found 40 minutes of walking 2-3 times per week led to increased brain volume in adults aged 65-67 years old. It also summarizes several studies that found aerobic fitness is positively associated with academic performance and brain activity, while BMI is negatively associated. Aerobic exercise interventions in children led to increased fitness, cognitive test performance, attention, cognitive flexibility, and brain activity related to executive control. The mechanisms by which exercise impacts the brain include increased neurogenesis, BDNF expression, and cell proliferation. BDNF levels increase acutely with exercise in a dose-response manner related to intensity and duration. Exercise training can lead to long-term brain changes and improvements in learning and memory

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