Aerobic exercise training effects on hippocampal volume in healthy older individuals: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Guilherme Moraes Balbim, Nárlon Cássio Boa Sorte Silva, Lisanne ten Brinke, Ryan S. Falck, Tibor Hortobágyi, Urs Granacher, Kirk I. Erickson, Rebeca Hernández-Gamboa, Teresa Liu-Ambrose*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)
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Abstract

We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of aerobic exercise training (AET) lasting ≥ 4 weeks on hippocampal volume and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in cognitively unimpaired, healthy older individuals. Random-effects robust variance estimation models were used to test differences between AET and controls, while meta-regressions tested associations between CRF and hippocampal volume changes. We included eight studies (N = 554) delivering fully supervised AET for 3 to 12 months (M = 7.8, SD = 4.5) with an average AET volume of 129.85 min/week (SD = 45.5) at moderate-to-vigorous intensity. There were no significant effects of AET on hippocampal volume (SMD = 0.10, 95% CI − 0.01 to 0.21, p = 0.073), but AET moderately improved CRF (SMD = 0.30, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.48, p = 0.005). Improvement in CRF was not associated with changes in hippocampal volume (bSE = 0.05, SE = 0.51, p = 0.923). From the limited number of studies, AET does not seem to impact hippocampal volume in cognitively unimpaired, healthy older individuals. Notable methodological limitations across investigations might mask the lack of effects.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2755-2764
Number of pages10
JournalGeroScience
Volume46
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr-2024

Keywords

  • Aerobic exercise
  • Hippocampus
  • Meta-analysis
  • Older individuals

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