Washington DC [US], January 22 (ANI): New research suggests that regular aerobic exercise can help keep the brain biologically younger, even in midlife. Adults who exercised consistently for a year showed brains that appeared nearly a year younger than those who did not alter their habits, highlighting the potential long-term benefits of physical activity.
The study, conducted by the AdventHealth Research Institute and published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science, focused on midlife—a critical window when preventative measures may offer significant advantages. Researchers found that small shifts in brain age could accumulate over decades, supporting clearer thinking, better memory, and overall mental well-being.
Measuring Brain Age with MRI
Brain age, assessed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), estimates how old the brain appears relative to a person’s chronological age. A higher brain-predicted age difference (brain-PAD) indicates an older-looking brain and has been linked to weaker physical and cognitive performance and a higher mortality risk.
Dr. Lu Wan, lead author and data scientist at AdventHealth, said, “We found that a simple, guideline-based exercise program can make the brain look measurably younger over just 12 months. Even a one-year shift in brain age could matter over the course of decades.”
Inside the Year-Long Exercise Trial
The clinical trial involved 130 healthy adults aged 26 to 58, randomly assigned to either a moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise group or a usual-care control group. Participants in the exercise group completed two supervised 60-minute workouts per week and added home-based exercise to reach approximately 150 minutes of aerobic activity weekly, aligning with American College of Sports Medicine guidelines.
MRI scans and cardiorespiratory fitness measurements (VO2peak) were taken at the start and end of the 12-month study.
Exercise Linked to a Younger-Looking Brain
After one year, participants in the exercise group experienced a measurable decrease in brain age, while the control group showed a slight, statistically insignificant increase. On average, the exercise group’s brain-PAD dropped by 0.6 years, compared to a 0.35-year increase in the control group, creating an almost one-year gap between the groups.
Dr. Kirk I. Erickson, senior author and neuroscientist, noted, “Even though the difference is less than a year, prior studies suggest that each additional ‘year’ of brain age is associated with meaningful differences in later-life health. Nudging the brain younger in midlife could be very important.”
Why Exercise May Affect Brain Ageing
Researchers examined potential factors such as fitness, body composition, blood pressure, and levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). While fitness improved, none of these factors fully explained the brain age reduction, suggesting exercise may influence subtle changes in brain structure, inflammation, vascular health, or other molecular mechanisms.
Focusing on Midlife for Long-Term Benefits
Unlike studies that target older adults, this research focused on early to mid-adulthood, when brain changes are subtler but prevention can be more impactful. Erickson said, “Intervening in the 30s, 40s, and 50s gives us a head start. Slowing brain ageing before major problems appear may delay or reduce risks of later-life cognitive decline and dementia.”
Implications and Future Directions
The authors caution that the study involved healthy, well-educated volunteers and that changes in brain age were modest. Larger, long-term studies are needed to determine whether reductions in brain-PAD translate to lower risks of stroke, dementia, or other neurological diseases.
Erickson concluded, “Our findings support the idea that following current exercise guidelines—150 minutes per week of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity—may help keep the brain biologically younger, even in midlife.” (ANI)
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