Staying active isn’t just good for the body—it may be one of the best ways to protect the brain from age-related decline. Decades of research suggest regular physical activity can help prevent memory problems and delay the onset of dementia.
But scientists are still working to understand how exercise supports brain health. New findings offer fresh clues: in mice with Alzheimer’s-like disease, treatments that stimulate new brain cell growth and reduce brain inflammation can mimic the memory-protecting effects of physical activity.
This discovery raises an exciting question: could the benefits of exercise someday be captured in a treatment for Alzheimer’s disease? Here’s what the science says so far.
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The Link Between Exercise and Brain Health
Many long-term studies point to a strong connection between physical fitness and brain aging. For example, a Swedish study that followed 1,000 women over 40 years found that those with the highest cardiovascular fitness at the start of the study developed dementia nearly a decade later than their moderately fit peers.
While these findings are promising, they come with limitations. Observational studies like this one can’t fully rule out other factors that might influence brain health, such as genetics or overall lifestyle habits common among physically active individuals.
In animal studies, the connection is clearer. Mice given access to running wheels consistently show reduced buildup of β-amyloid plaques in the brain—sticky deposits that are thought to drive Alzheimer’s disease. Exercise also seems to improve memory in these models, even in mice with severe neurodegeneration.
Does Exercise Help Once Alzheimer’s Has Already Taken Hold?
The benefits of exercise in preventing cognitive decline are well documented in mice, but results in humans are more mixed.
Some clinical trials involving older adults with dementia have shown that regular physical activity can improve cognitive function. However, other studies have found no significant changes. This inconsistency has led researchers to question whether exercise can still protect brain function after a neurodegenerative disease has taken root.
In contrast, rodent models offer stronger evidence. Mice with Alzheimer’s-like disease that were given access to exercise performed better on memory tests, such as navigating mazes to find hidden food rewards, compared to their sedentary counterparts.
How Does Exercise Protect the Brain?
One of the most promising theories is that physical activity promotes neurogenesis—the process of creating new neurons in the brain.
In the hippocampus, a region critical for learning and memory, neural progenitor cells can produce new brain cells. Some scientists have debated whether neurogenesis continues throughout human adulthood, but in rodents, it’s clear: exercise significantly boosts the survival of newborn neurons.
Studies show that mice with access to a running wheel can double the number of new neurons that survive in the hippocampus. These newly formed cells appear to help sharpen spatial memory—the ability to learn about and remember physical environments.
Why Neurogenesis Alone Isn’t Enough
While neurogenesis may be part of the puzzle, it doesn’t seem to work alone. In the latest study, researchers gave mice a combination of treatments to encourage brain cell growth. Although the mice produced new neurons, their memory didn’t improve until they received an additional boost: higher levels of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).
BDNF plays a critical role in supporting neural growth and reducing brain inflammation. Without it, the new brain cells struggled to survive in what researchers described as a “hostile environment” created by the diseased brain. When BDNF was added to the treatment, the mice showed significant improvements in memory performance.
Could This Approach Treat Alzheimer’s?
So far, drug companies have focused largely on reducing β-amyloid plaques, but some experts believe targeting neurogenesis and inflammation could offer new hope.
There are challenges to this approach. For one, the neurons created by progenitor cells in the human hippocampus aren’t the same type that typically degenerate in Alzheimer’s disease. And even if new neurons can improve some brain functions, Alzheimer’s affects many areas beyond the hippocampus.
Still, expanding treatment strategies may be key. Mark Mattson, a neuroscientist at the National Institute on Aging, believes neurogenesis deserves more attention in Alzheimer’s research. “So far, it’s been tunnel vision on amyloid,” he says. “The more approaches, the better.”
The Future of Brain Health
While there’s still much to learn, this research reinforces one clear takeaway: regular physical activity is one of the most powerful tools for protecting the brain.
Until scientists can replicate the brain-boosting benefits of exercise in a pill, staying active remains the best option for supporting memory and reducing the risk of dementia.
Experts agree that a combination of treatments—encouraging neurogenesis, reducing inflammation, and supporting overall brain function—may one day offer new hope for people with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
For now, the prescription for a healthier brain is simple: keep moving.
