Title: Physical exercise improves cognition by inducing hippocampal structural and functional changes in the aged murine brain that are dependent on neurogenesis Speaker: Dr. Xiaoqing Zhou, The University of Queensland,  Australia. Chair: Prof. Tianzi Jiang, Brainnetome Center, CASIA  Time: 14:30-15:30, Feb. 25, 2019    Venue: The 1rd meeting room, 3rd floor, Intelligence Building

Abstract:

With an ageing population worldwide, the incidence of cognitive decline is increasing, especially impairment in memory dependent on the function of the hippocampus. Evidence suggests that physical exercise may protect against decline in hippocampal function, however, little is known about how this improvement is mediated. My study, using MRI imaging, shows that significant cognitive improvement in aged mice following exercise results from an enhancement in strength of connections in the Dentate Gyrus (DG) network in the hippocampus. Moreover, I show this enhancement is dependent on the increased production of new neurons in the DG of the aged mice. 

Biography: