Walking Grew the Hippocampus. Stretching Did Not.

Walking grew the hippocampus. Stretching did not. Erickson et al., PNAS 2011: 120 sedentary older adults, one-year trial. Walking toward 40 minutes, 3 days a week, talk-test pace vs stretching and toning. Walkers gained about 2% in the anterior hippocampus. The stretching group lost about 1.5%. Spatial memory and BDNF moved with the volume change. Aerobic load is the lever this paper measured — BDNF and blood supply, not a dementia cure. Strength and balance still matter. Dose from the trial: build toward 40 minutes, 3×/week. Not medical advice. Erickson et al. PNAS 2011 · Pereira et al. PNAS 2007;104:5638–5643 Dr. Darcy D. Dane, DC, DACNB · ‪@naplesbraincenter‬ · Naples, Florida NaplesBrainCenter.com · (239) 380-5596 #hippocampus #aerobicexercise #brainhealth #memory #BDNF #neuroplasticity