Cited by 630Physical Activity and HealthDementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchCardiovascular and exercise physiology

Physical activity, fitness, and gray matter volume

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Erickson, Kirk I., Leckie, Regina L., Weinstein, Andrea M.·2014·Neurobiology of Aging

Abstract

In this review, we explore the association among physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and exercise on gray matter volume in older adults. We conclude that higher cardiorespiratory fitness levels are routinely associated with greater gray matter volume in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus and less consistently in other regions. We also conclude that physical activity is associated with greater gray matter volume in the same regions that are associated with cardiorespiratory fitness including the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. Some heterogeneity in the literature may be explained by effect moderation by age, stress, or other factors. Finally, we report promising results from randomized exercise interventions that suggest that the volume of the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex remain pliable and responsive to moderate intensity exercise for 6 months-1 year. Physical activity appears to be a propitious method for influencing gray matter volume in late adulthood, but additional well-controlled studies are necessary to inform public policies about the potential protective or therapeutic effects of exercise on brain volume.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.03.034

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  • There is strong evidence for neuroplasticity in active older adults - i.e., if there is optimal physical, cognitive and social activity, the development of new synapses, dendrites, blood vessels, and even neurons in specific subcortical regions, such as the dentate gyrus of hippocampus, can and does take place.

    “There is strong evidence for neuroplasticity in active older adults – i.e., if there is optimal physical, cognitive and social activity, the development of new synapses, dendrites, blood vessels, and even neurons in specific subcortical regions, such as the dentate gyrus of hippocampus, can and does take place64, 65.”
  • Cross-sectional and randomized intervention studies consistently suggest a change in the size of the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus after moderate intensity exercise in elderly people.

    “A recent review on the association between fitness, physical activity and gray matter volume showed that both cross-sectional studies and randomized interventions consistently suggested a change in the size of prefrontal cortex and hippocampus after moderate intensity exercise in elderly people (59).”

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Authors
Erickson, K. I., Leckie, R. L., & Weinstein, A. M.
Affiliations
University of Pittsburgh (US)
Corresponding author
Erickson, Kirk I.
Venue
Neurobiology of Aging
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2014-09
Volume
35
Pages
S20-S28
ISSN
0197-4580 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1979866949
Cited by
630
References
61
Citations by year
2026: 42 · 2025: 56 · 2024: 35 · 2023: 63 · 2022: 52 · 2021: 71 · 2020: 64 · 2019: 50 · 2018: 59 · 2017: 57 · 2016: 46 · 2015: 31 · 2014: 4
FWCI
5.40
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neurobiology of Aging (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institutes of Health (R01 DK095172)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Cardiovascular and exercise physiology
Keywords
physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, gray matter volume, older adults, prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, exercise intervention, neuroplasticity, old age, stress, age effects
MeSH terms
Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Cross-Sectional Studies, Hippocampus, Humans, Middle Aged, Motor Activity, Organ Size, Physical Fitness, Meta-Analysis as Topic, Exercise, Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic, Prefrontal Cortex, Gray Matter

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