Effect of aerobic exercise on hippocampal volume in humans: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Joseph Firth; Brendon Stubbs; Davy Vancampfort; Felipe Schuch; Jim Lagopoulos; Simon Rosenbaum; Philip B Ward

doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.11.007

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Effect of aerobic exercise on hippocampal volume in humans: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Effect of aerobic exercise on hippocampal volume in humans: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Joseph Firth, Brendon Stubbs, Davy Vancampfort, Felipe Schuch, Jim Lagopoulos, Simon Rosenbaum and Philip B Ward

NeuroImage, Vol.166, pp.230-238

2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.11.007

Appears in Thompson Institute Research Collection

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Abstract

physical activity

plasticity

neurogenesis

neurodegeneration

hippocampus

resistance

Other Collaborations

Thompson Institute Special Collection

Hippocampal volume increase in response to aerobic exercise has been consistently observed in animal models. However, the evidence from human studies is equivocal. We undertook a systematic review to identify all controlled trials examining the effect of aerobic exercise on the hippocampal volumes in humans, and applied meta-analytic techniques to determine if aerobic exercise resulted in volumetric increases. We also sought to establish how volume changes differed in relation to unilateral measures of left/right hippocampal volume, and across the lifespan. A systematic search identified 4398 articles, of which 14 were eligible for inclusion in the primary analysis. A random-effects meta-analysis showed no significant effect of aerobic exercise on total hippocampal volume across the 737 participants. However, aerobic exercise had significant positive effects on left hippocampal volume in comparison to control conditions. Post-hoc analyses indicated effects were driven through exercise preventing the volumetric decreases which occur over time. These results provide meta-analytic evidence for exercise-induced volumetric retention in the left hippocampus. Aerobic exercise interventions may be useful for preventing age-related hippocampal deterioration and maintaining neuronal health.

Details

Title: Effect of aerobic exercise on hippocampal volume in humans: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Joseph Firth (Author) - University of Western Sydney
Brendon Stubbs (Author) - Kings College London, United Kingdom
Davy Vancampfort (Author) - KU Leuven Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Belgium
Felipe Schuch (Author) - Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil
Jim Lagopoulos (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Arts, Business and Law
Simon Rosenbaum (Author) - University of New South Wales
Philip B Ward (Author) - University of New South Wales
Publication details: NeuroImage, Vol.166, pp.230-238
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date published: 2018
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.11.007
ISSN: 1053-8119
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Thompson Institute
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450416002621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Neuroimaging; Neurosciences; Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging

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