Researchers at Florida Atlantic University have demonstrated that engaging in running during midlife supports the brain’s ability to hold onto the connections between nerve cells, a factor that can help avert or slow memory decline as people age. The findings, published in the journal eNeuro, add a crucial piece to the growing picture of how lifestyle habits influence brain health over the lifespan.
Past work established that the brain can generate new nerve cells, a process known as neurogenesis, in many species, including humans. Yet questions remained about how these newborn neurons become functionally integrated into established neural networks and whether physical activity might facilitate that integration in a meaningful way. The new study sought to answer these questions with a focus on how exercise might influence the survival and incorporation of new neurons into memory-related circuits.
To explore this, the team employed an innovative approach to trace neural circuits in rodents. They used a modified rabies virus to map connections and observe how newly formed neurons connect with older networks. The results showed that neurons produced during the animals’ early adulthood are not just added to the brain but are actively woven into a network of cells that supports episodic memory as aging progresses. Importantly, mice that engaged in regular running exhibited a higher production of new neurons and a greater number of functional connections within this memory network than their sedentary peers.
Commenting on the study, the researchers emphasized that their work sheds light on how sustained physical activity—beginning in youth and continuing through middle age—can help preserve memory function later in life. They pointed to exercise as a practical, everyday behavior that may strengthen the brain’s resilience by promoting robust neural scaffolding, improving plasticity, and enhancing the integration of new neural elements into memory circuits. The study’s authors also noted the broader implications for public health, suggesting that consistent aerobic activity should be encouraged as part of a long-term strategy to support cognitive health across the population. In addition to memory, the research hints at potential benefits for other brain systems that rely on dynamic communication among neurons, which could translate into better learning, faster information processing, and greater mental agility with aging. The scientists advocate for more longitudinal work to determine how different intensities and types of exercise might optimize these neural processes and how such effects manifest in humans, alongside translating the rodent findings into practical guidelines for daily life.