Exercise & Brain Function

Background

The hippocampus is a brain area critical for learning and memory that is negatively impacted by aging, Alzheimer’s disease, and chronic stress. The prefrontal cortex is a brain area critical for executive function that is also negatively impacted by aging, Alzheimer’s disease, and chronic stress. Another well-established modulator of the hippocampal memory system is aerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise and chronic stress are both potent, but opposite modulators of the hippocampal memory system. The goal of this MRI study funded by the National Institute on Aging, NIH is to examine how psychosocial chronic stress due to social discrimination and experiences of racism affects the hippocampal memory system and to examine whether physical activity can buffer against the negative effects of social discrimination and racialized stress.