Exercise boosts hippocampal volume by preventing early age-related gray matter loss

Johannes Fuss; Sarah V Biedermann; Claudia Falfán-Melgoza; Matthias K Auer; Lei Zheng; Jörg Steinle; Felix Hörner; Alexander Sartorius; Gabriele Ende; Wolfgang Weber-Fahr; Peter Gass

doi:10.1002/hipo.22227

Exercise boosts hippocampal volume by preventing early age-related gray matter loss

Hippocampus. 2014 Feb;24(2):131-4. doi: 10.1002/hipo.22227. Epub 2013 Nov 26.

Authors

Johannes Fuss¹, Sarah V Biedermann, Claudia Falfán-Melgoza, Matthias K Auer, Lei Zheng, Jörg Steinle, Felix Hörner, Alexander Sartorius, Gabriele Ende, Wolfgang Weber-Fahr, Peter Gass

Affiliation

¹ RG Animal models in Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health Mannheim (ZI), Medical Faculty Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany.

PMID: 24178895
DOI: 10.1002/hipo.22227

Abstract

Recently, a larger hippocampus was found in exercising mice and men. Here we studied the morphological underpinnings in wheel running mice by longitudinal magnetic resonance imaging. Voxel-based morphometry revealed that running increases hippocampal volume by inhibiting an early age-related gray matter loss. Disruption of neurogenesis-related neuroplasticity by focalized irradiation is sufficient to block positive effects of exercise on macroscopic brain morphology.

Keywords: aging; brain matter; hippocampus; mice; sports; wheel running.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Aging / pathology*
Animals
Cranial Irradiation / adverse effects
Hippocampus / pathology*
Hippocampus / radiation effects
Imaging, Three-Dimensional
Longitudinal Studies
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology*
Running