title: The effect of exercise on hippocampal volume and neurotrophines in patients with major depression--a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The hippocampal volume is reduced in patients with major depression. Exercise leads to an increased hippocampal volume in schizophrenia and in healthy old adults. The effect of exercise on hippocampal volume is potentially mediated by brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). The aim of this trial was to assess the effect of an aerobic exercise intervention on hippocampal volume and serum BDNF, VEGF, and IGF-1 in patients with major depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were randomized to an aerobic exercise intervention (n=41) or a control condition (n=38). Both interventions consisted of three supervised sessions per week during a three months period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Post-intervention the increase in maximal oxygen uptake was 3.90 ml/kg/min (SD 5.1) in the aerobic exercise group and 0.95 ml/kg/min (SD 6.2) in the control group (p=0.03). The hippocampal volume, BDNF, VEGF, or IGF-1 did not differ between the two groups. Post-hoc we found a positive association between change in hippocampal volume and verbal memory (Rho=0.27; p=0.05) and change in hippocampal volume and depressive symptoms (Rho=0.30; p=0.03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participation was low in both groups corresponding to an average participation of one session per week.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite a significant increase in maximal oxygen uptake, a pragmatic exercise intervention did not increase hippocampal volume or resting levels of neurotrophines in out-patients with mild to moderate major depression. Trial identifier: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00695552).
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Mental Health Services in the Capital Region of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: Jesper.krogh@regionh.dk.
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krogh
authors.affiliation: Functional Imaging Unit, Department of Diagnostics, Copenhagen University Hospital, Glostrup Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: Egill
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rostrup
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Rigshospitalet, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thomsen
authors.affiliation: Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Betina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Elfving
authors.affiliation: Department for Depression and Anxiety Q, Aarhus University Hospital, Risskov, Denmark.
authors.forename: Poul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Videbech
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Centre Copenhagen, Mental Health Services in the Capital Region of Denmark, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Merete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nordentoft
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000097:blood*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
keywords: BDNF; Depression; Exercise; Hippocampus; Memory; Neurogenesis