一項研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，有氧運動能改善老年人的記憶喪失,，并且可能阻止衰老過程中的認知衰退。此前的研究已經(jīng)證明了大腦的海馬區(qū)在成年期的后期自然地縮小,，這削弱了記憶并增加了癡呆的風險,。Arthur F. Kramer及其同事研究了對60位55歲到80歲的健康成年人在為期一年的有氧鍛煉項目之前、之中和之后的大腦掃描,。這組作者報告說,，在該研究期間，每周進行3次每次40分鐘的行走的受試者的前海馬的體積增加了大約2%,。參與伸展運動的對照組成員的海馬區(qū)體積減少了1.4%，這符合正常衰老,。
這組科研人員推測,，有氧運動提升了來源于腦的神經(jīng)營養(yǎng)因子在血清中的濃度，神經(jīng)營養(yǎng)因子是一種天然產(chǎn)生的化合物,，它幫助產(chǎn)生新的腦組織并在形成新記憶方面起到關(guān)鍵作用,。這組作者說，該研究證明了到成年期的晚期前海馬區(qū)仍然保持相對活躍狀態(tài),，而且有氧運動——即便在老年才開始做有氧運動——能夠幫助避免與年齡有關(guān)的認知衰退,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦英文摘要：
PNAS doi: 10.1073/pnas.1015950108
Exercise training increases size of hippocampus and improves memory
Kirk I. Ericksona, Michelle W. Vossb,c, Ruchika Shaurya Prakashd, Chandramallika Basake, Amanda Szabof, Laura Chaddockb,c, Jennifer S. Kimb, Susie Heob,c, Heloisa Alvesb,c, Siobhan M. Whitef, Thomas R. Wojcickif, Emily Maileyf, Victoria J. Vieiraf, Stephen A. Martinf, Brandt D. Pencef, Jeffrey A. Woodsf, Edward McAuleyb,f, and Arthur F. Kramerb,c,1
The hippocampus shrinks in late adulthood, leading to impaired memory and increased risk for dementia. Hippocampal and medial temporal lobe volumes are larger in higher-fit adults, and physical activity training increases hippocampal perfusion, but the extent to which aerobic exercise training can modify hippocampal volume in late adulthood remains unknown. Here we show, in a randomized controlled trial with 120 older adults, that aerobic exercise training increases the size of the anterior hippocampus, leading to improvements in spatial memory. Exercise training increased hippocampal volume by 2%, effectively reversing age-related loss in volume by 1 to 2 y. We also demonstrate that increased hippocampal volume is associated with greater serum levels of BDNF, a mediator of neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus. Hippocampal volume declined in the control group, but higher preintervention fitness partially attenuated the decline, suggesting that fitness protects against volume loss. Caudate nucleus and thalamus volumes were unaffected by the intervention. These theoretically important findings indicate that aerobic exercise training is effective at reversing hippocampal volume loss in late adulthood, which is accompanied by improved memory function.
