Key result
Objectively measured vigorous physical activity was positively associated with left (r=0.30) and right (r=0.27) hippocampal gray matter volume in young adults.
Why the study?
Little evidence exists on the association between physical activity and hippocampal change in young adults, and the personality traits influencing this link remain unclear.
Does physical activity improve hippocampal volume in young adults?
Cross-Sectional (n=84)
No
Does physical activity improve hippocampal volume in young adults?
Effect estimate: r = 0.30 (left), r = 0.27 (right)
p-value: p=<0.05
Vigorous physical activity is positively associated with hippocampal volume in young adults.
Association in cross-sectional data does not imply causation; leaves open whether increasing vigorous activity augments hippocampal volume.
Evidence from previous studies suggests that physical activity may contribute to a functional and structural hippocampal change throughout the lifespan. However, there is little evidence available in the young adult population. In addition, the personality traits that may influence this association remain unclear. With a sample of 84 young adults (43 girls; age 22.7 ± 2.8y), the main aim of the current study was to analyze the association between objective and self-reported measures of daily physical activity and hippocampal gray matter volume, and to examine the role of the personality trait of punishment sensitivity in this association. Our results showed that only vigorous levels of objectively measured physical activity (but not moderate or light) were positively associated with hippocampal volume and negatively with the personality trait of punishment sensitivity. Moreover, self-reported measures of total and vigorous physical activity were only associated with the personality measures, but not with the hippocampus volume. Thus, our data suggest that vigorous physical activity may contribute to enhancing the hippocampal volume in young adults.
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Cherednichenko et al. (2023) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy (n=84). Vigorous physical activity vs. Lower levels of physical activity or sedentary time was evaluated on Hippocampal gray matter volume (r = 0.30 (left), r = 0.27 (right), p=<0.05). Objectively measured vigorous physical activity was positively associated with left (r=0.30) and right (r=0.27) hippocampal gray matter volume in young adults.
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