My main research interest has been to determine the mechanisms by which physical exercise benefits cognition. Exercise enhances the function of several brain regions important for learning and memory, including the hippocampus. Ample evidence supports the idea that physical activity boosts hippocampal-dependent learning and memory in humans and other animals.
My previous work has identified some of the adaptive epigenetic changes that occur as a result of daily physical activity. These epigenetic changes involve the promoter region of genes involved in hippocampal function, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Hippocampal BDNF may be required for spatial memory gains that result from exercise, because blocking BDNF in the hippocampus abolishes exercise-induced memory improvements. Importantly, these findings highlight the potential for exercise to offset the decline in hippocampal function that occurs with aging and neurodegenerative disease.