The DOI matches its Crossref record; 7 of the 7 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Aerobic exercise increases hippocampal volume and improves memory in multiple sclerosis: preliminary findings.
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis leads to prominent hippocampal atrophy, which is linked to memory deficits. Indeed, 50% of multiple sclerosis patients suffer memory impairment, with negative consequences for quality of life. There are currently no effective memory treatments for multiple sclerosis either pharmacological or behavioral. Aerobic exercise improves memory and promotes hippocampal neurogenesis in nonhuman animals. Here, we investigate the benefits of aerobic exercise in memory-impaired multiple sclerosis patients. Pilot data were collected from two ambulatory, memory-impaired multiple sclerosis participants randomized to non-aerobic (stretching) and aerobic (stationary cycling) conditions. The following baseline/follow-up measurements were taken: high-resolution MRI (neuroanatomical volumes), fMRI (functional connectivity), and memory assessment. Intervention was 30-minute sessions 3 times per week for 3 months. Aerobic exercise resulted in 16.5% increase in hippocampal volume and 53.7% increase in memory, as well as increased hippocampal resting-state functional connectivity. Improvements were specific, with no comparable changes in overall cerebral gray matter (+2.4%), non-hippocampal deep gray matter structures (thalamus, caudate: -4.0%), or in non-memory cognitive functioning (executive functions, processing speed, working memory: changes ranged from -11% to +4%). Non-aerobic exercise resulted in relatively no change in hippocampal volume (2.8%) or memory (0.0%), and no changes in hippocampal functional connectivity. This is the first evidence for aerobic exercise to increase hippocampal volume and connectivity and improve memory in multiple sclerosis. Aerobic exercise represents a cost-effective, widely available, natural, and self-administered treatment with no adverse side effects that may be the first effective memory treatment for multiple sclerosis patients.
Overview
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
In the citing paper
“AE interventions have also been shown to increase hippocampal volume in patients with mild cognitive impairments (ten Brinke et al., 2015), schizophrenia (Pajonk et al., 2010), and multiple sclerosis (Leavitt et al., 2014).”
From Aerobic Exercise as a Tool to Improve Hippocampal Plasticity and Function in Humans: Practical Implications for Mental Health Treatment (2016) · cites this paper as Leavitt et al., 2014
Citations
Cites
AFNI: Software for analysis and visualization of functional magnetic resonance neuroimages
Cox, R. W. (1996) · Computers and Biomedical Research · doi:10.1006/cbmr.1996.0014 · Cited by 10,913
Exercise training increases size of hippocampus and improves memory
Erickson, K. I., Voss, M. W., Prakash, R. S., Basak, C., Szabo, A., Chaddock, L., Kim, J. S., Heo, S., Alves, H., White, S. M., et al. (2011) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1015950108 · Cited by 4,855
Running enhances neurogenesis, learning, and long-term potentiation in mice
van Praag, H., Christie, B. R., Sejnowski, T. J., & Gage, F. H. (1999) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.96.23.13427 · Cited by 2,904
Hippocampal Plasticity in Response to Exercise in Schizophrenia
Pajonk, F.-G., Wobrock, T., Gruber, O., Scherk, H., Berner, D., Kaizl, I., Kierer, A., Müller, S., Oest, M., Meyer, T., et al. (2010) · Archives of General Psychiatry · doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2009.193 · Cited by 592
Regional hippocampal atrophy in multiple sclerosis.
Sicotte, N., Kern, K. C., Giesser, B., Arshanapalli, A., Schultz, A., Montag, M. J., Wang, H., & Bookheimer, S. (2008) · Brain : a journal of neurology · doi:10.1093/brain/awn030 · Cited by 376
Memory impairment in multiple sclerosis: A quantitative review.
Thornton, A. E., & Raz, N. (1997) · Neuropsychology · doi:10.1037/0894-4105.11.3.357 · Cited by 225
Memory rehabilitation for people with multiple sclerosis
das Nair, R., Martin, K.-J., & Lincoln, N. B. (2016) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd008754.pub3 · Cited by 168
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- das Nair R., 2012, Cochrane Database of Systematic Review, 3, CD008754
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 101–136 of 136
Salamatullah, H. K., Alkhiri, A., Ezzi, S., Alghamdi, G. A., Alharbi, G., Alzahrani, W. S. S., Alghaythee, H. K., Almaghrabi, A. A., Alturki, F., Alamri, A. F., et al. (2024) · Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.msard.2024.105809 · Cited by 5
Slezáková, D., Adamová, L. M., Marček, P., Kadlic, P., Konečná, M., Valkovič, P., & Minár, M. (2025) · Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.msard.2025.106450 · Cited by 4
Bilek, F., Deniz, G., Elidar, G., Ercan, Z., & Demir, C. F. (2026) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-025-33434-4 · Cited by 4
Padilla, C., Andrés, P., & Bajo, M. T. (2018) · Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00318 · Cited by 4
Elkhooly, M., Stadio, A. D., & Bernitsas, E. (2024) · Brain Sciences · doi:10.3390/brainsci14080771 · Cited by 4
Neuroprotective effects of physical exercise: Implications in health and disease
Pintilie, S. R., Condrat, A. D., Fodor, A., Sitar-Tăut, A., Damian, M., Login, C., Lotrean, L. M., Cornean, R., Florea, M., Chiş, A., et al. (2021) · Romanian Medical Journal · doi:10.37897/rmj.2021.3.9 · Cited by 3
Psychological Stress and the Kaleidoscope of Autoimmune Diseases
Sharif, Κ., Watad, ., Krosser, A., Coplan, L., Amital, H., Afek, A. B., & Shoenfeld, Y. (2019) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-814307-0.00033-5 · Cited by 3
Prakash, R. S., Manglani, H. R., Duraney, E. J., Shankar, A., Fisher, M. E., Janssen, A. L., Cea, L., Petosa, R. L., Andridge, R., & Nicholas, J. A. (2022) · Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications · doi:10.1016/j.conctc.2022.101006 · Cited by 4
Exercise and Cognition in Multiple Sclerosis in 2025: Forward Momentum or Going Nowhere Fast?
Sandroff, B. M., & Motl, R. W. (2025) · Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports · doi:10.1007/s11910-025-01450-6 · Cited by 2
Suwabe, K., Yassa, M. A., Suzuki, K., Sankai, Y., & Soya, H. (2025) · Advances in neurobiology · doi:10.1007/978-981-95-0066-6_5 · Cited by 3
Ivaldi, D., Lombardo, R., Triolo, G., Restuccia, G., Susinna, C., Bonanno, L., Rifici, C., D’Aleo, G., Sessa, E., Quartarone, A., et al. (2025) · Journal of Clinical Medicine · doi:10.3390/jcm14238612 · Cited by 2
Huang, H., Shi, H., Sun, J., Song, X., Yu, Y., Yan, L., Shi, F., Wang, W., & Zhang, Y. (2026) · Neuroscience Letters · doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2026.138597 · Cited by 2
Wender, C. L. A., Arbelaez, O., Tong, T. T., Salter, A. R., Wylie, G. R., Motl, R. W., Sandroff, B. M., & Chiaravalloti, N. D. (2024) · Contemporary Clinical Trials · doi:10.1016/j.cct.2024.107630 · Cited by 2
Self-citationPhysical Activity and Health Promotion for People With Multiple Sclerosis
MacDonald, M., Dixon-Ibarra, A. M., & Rogers, K. A. (2017) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-805298-3.00021-9 · Cited by 2
Leavitt, V. M. (2017) · Multiple Sclerosis Journal · doi:10.1177/1352458516688353 · Cited by 2
Self-citationBarbado, D., Gómez-Illán, R., Moreno, P., Láiz, N. M., Vaíllo, R. R., & Sempere, Á. P. (2018) · Deposito Digital UFV (Francisco de Vitoria University) · Cited by 2
Kever, A., Nelson, K. E., Aguerre, I. M., Riley, C., Boehme, A. K., Lee, N. W., Farber, R. S., Levin, S. N., Stein, J. M., & Leavitt, V. M. (2020) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-039691 · Cited by 2
Self-citationRecognizing specific errors in human physical exercise performance with Microsoft Kinect
Staab, R. (2014) · doi:10.15368/theses.2014.91 · Cited by 2
Importance of physical activity in people with multiple sclerosis
Nedeljković, U., Vujadinović, S. T., Krstić, N., & Ilic, N. V. (2025) · Medicinska istrazivanja · doi:10.5937/medi0-56932 · Cited by 1
Cognitive reserve in multiple sclerosis
Pashkovskaya, D. V., Alifirova, V. M., & Kamenskikh, E. M. (2022) · Russian neurological Journal · doi:10.30629/2658-7947-2022-27-2-14-21 · Cited by 1
Golmohammadi, R., & Behashti, M. (2014) · Journal of North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences · doi:10.29252/jnkums.6.2.395 · Cited by 1
Argento, O., Piacentini, C., Bossa, M., Caltagirone, C., Santamato, A., Saraceni, V., & Nocentini, U. (2022) · NeuroSci · doi:10.3390/neurosci3030029 · Cited by 1
Symptomatic and Complementary Treatments
Sørensen, P. S., Schreiber, K. I., & Andreasen, A. K. (2016) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-801914-6.00026-x
Sandroff, B. M. (2015) · Illinois Digital Environment for Access to Learning and Scholarship (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign)
Introduction to Imaging in the Neurosciences
Boska, M. D., & White, M. L. (2016) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-44022-4_53
Maloh, D. I. A., AlNahar, H. N., & Maloh, H. I. A. A. (2021) · Materials Today Proceedings · doi:10.1016/j.matpr.2021.03.422
RetractedHoffmann, M. W., Cywes, R., Childers, A. M., Kossoff, M. M., Kossoff, E. H., Perlmutter, D., Phillips, M. C. L., Edes, G., Berger, A., Stanton, A. A., et al. (2023) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-821617-0.00006-1
Hafedh, M., & Hatem, M. L. (2024) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-4623275/v1
Liu, Y., & White, M. L. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-68237-7_46
Sebastião, É., Siqueira, V. A. A. A., Santinelli, F. B., Hill, C. M., & Rodriguez‐Larrad, A. (2024) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-74123-4_22
Learmonth, Y. C., Pilutti, L. A., Herring, M. P., Motl, R. W., Chan, B., & Metse, A. P. (2021) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.15026506
Swimming exercise modulates pro-inflammatory cytokines in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis
Ahmadi, E. B., Shahrbanian, S., Kordi, M. R., Gharakhanlou, R., & Pearcey, G. E. P. (2026) · Comparative Exercise Physiology · doi:10.1163/17552559-bja10079
The influence of physical activity on changes in brain structure in patients with multiple sclerosis
Kimla, W., Hajok, N., Maruszak, A., Kwiecień, J., Stołtny, J., Goryczka, J., Lisik, M., Mida, M., Michalik, M., & Majda, U. (2026) · Journal of Education Health and Sport · doi:10.12775/jehs.2026.92.72488
Murphy, T. J., Lauinger, A. R., Peters, J., Truong, E., & Abou, L. (2026) · Disability and Rehabilitation · doi:10.1080/09638288.2026.2749683
Environmental and lifestyle factors in multiple sclerosis progression
Hedström, A. K. (2026) · Frontiers in Immunology · doi:10.3389/fimmu.2026.1971890
Metadata
- Authors
- Leavitt, V. M., Cirnigliaro, C., Cohen, A., Farag, A., Brooks, M., Wecht, J. M., Wylie, G. R., Chiaravalloti, N. D., DeLuca, J., & Sumowski, J. F.
- Affiliations
- Kessler Foundation (US)
- Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation (US)
- James J. Peters VA Medical Center (US)
- Corresponding author
- Leavitt, V. M.
- ORCID
- Venue
- Neurocase
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2013-10-04
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 695-697
- ISSN
- 1355-4794 (ISSN-L)
- 1465-3656
- OpenAlex
- W2102570265
- Cited by
- 134
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 5
- FWCI
- 7.23
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Neurocase (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Clinical Neurology › Multiple Sclerosis Research Studies
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
- Keywords
- multiple sclerosis, aerobic exercise, hippocampal volume, memory impairment, hippocampal atrophy, resting-state functional connectivity, stationary cycling, stretching, neurogenesis, gray matter volume, executive function, non-pharmacological treatment
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Brain, Exercise Therapy, Female, Hippocampus, Humans, Memory, Multiple Sclerosis, Treatment Outcome
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
