Walking and Hippocampal Formation Volume Changes: A Systematic Review
Background/Objectives: Sustaining the human brain’s hippocampus from atrophy throughout ageing is critical. Exercise is proven to be effective in promoting adaptive hippocampal plasticity, and the hippocampus has a bidirectional relationship with the physical environment. Therefore, this systematic...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Brain Sciences |
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| author | Mohamed Hesham Khalil |
| author_facet | Mohamed Hesham Khalil |
| author_sort | Mohamed Hesham Khalil |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background/Objectives: Sustaining the human brain’s hippocampus from atrophy throughout ageing is critical. Exercise is proven to be effective in promoting adaptive hippocampal plasticity, and the hippocampus has a bidirectional relationship with the physical environment. Therefore, this systematic review explores the effects of walking, a simple physical activity in the environment, on hippocampal formation volume changes for lifelong brain and cognitive health. Method: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for studies on humans published up to November 2022 examining hippocampal volume changes and walking. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Study quality was assessed using the PEDro scale and ROBINS-I tool. A narrative synthesis explored walking factors associated with total, subregional, and hemisphere-specific hippocampal volume changes. Results: Overall, walking had positive effects on hippocampal volumes. Several studies found benefits of higher-intensity and greater amounts of walking for total hippocampal volume. The subiculum increased after low-intensity walking and nature exposure, while the parahippocampal gyrus benefited from vigorous intensity. The right hippocampus increased with spatial navigation during walking. No studies examined the effect of walking on the dentate gyrus. Conclusions: This systematic review highlights walking as a multifaceted variable that can lead to manifold adaptive hippocampal volume changes. These findings support the promotion of walking as a simple, effective strategy to enhance brain health and prevent cognitive decline, suggesting the design of physical environments with natural and biophilic characteristics and layouts with greater walkability and cognitive stimulation. Future research is encouraged to explore the hippocampal subregional changes instead of focusing on total hippocampal volume, since the hippocampal formation is multicompartmental and subfields respond differently to different walking-related variables. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6b590f1bf16d4c9f9a0f4bd160b8f340 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-6b590f1bf16d4c9f9a0f4bd160b8f3402025-01-24T13:25:49ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252025-01-011515210.3390/brainsci15010052Walking and Hippocampal Formation Volume Changes: A Systematic ReviewMohamed Hesham Khalil0Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1PX, UKBackground/Objectives: Sustaining the human brain’s hippocampus from atrophy throughout ageing is critical. Exercise is proven to be effective in promoting adaptive hippocampal plasticity, and the hippocampus has a bidirectional relationship with the physical environment. Therefore, this systematic review explores the effects of walking, a simple physical activity in the environment, on hippocampal formation volume changes for lifelong brain and cognitive health. Method: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for studies on humans published up to November 2022 examining hippocampal volume changes and walking. Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria. Study quality was assessed using the PEDro scale and ROBINS-I tool. A narrative synthesis explored walking factors associated with total, subregional, and hemisphere-specific hippocampal volume changes. Results: Overall, walking had positive effects on hippocampal volumes. Several studies found benefits of higher-intensity and greater amounts of walking for total hippocampal volume. The subiculum increased after low-intensity walking and nature exposure, while the parahippocampal gyrus benefited from vigorous intensity. The right hippocampus increased with spatial navigation during walking. No studies examined the effect of walking on the dentate gyrus. Conclusions: This systematic review highlights walking as a multifaceted variable that can lead to manifold adaptive hippocampal volume changes. These findings support the promotion of walking as a simple, effective strategy to enhance brain health and prevent cognitive decline, suggesting the design of physical environments with natural and biophilic characteristics and layouts with greater walkability and cognitive stimulation. Future research is encouraged to explore the hippocampal subregional changes instead of focusing on total hippocampal volume, since the hippocampal formation is multicompartmental and subfields respond differently to different walking-related variables.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/1/52walkinghippocampushippocampal volumeplasticitysubiculumparahippocampal gyrus |
| spellingShingle | Mohamed Hesham Khalil Walking and Hippocampal Formation Volume Changes: A Systematic Review Brain Sciences walking hippocampus hippocampal volume plasticity subiculum parahippocampal gyrus |
| title | Walking and Hippocampal Formation Volume Changes: A Systematic Review |
| title_full | Walking and Hippocampal Formation Volume Changes: A Systematic Review |
| title_fullStr | Walking and Hippocampal Formation Volume Changes: A Systematic Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Walking and Hippocampal Formation Volume Changes: A Systematic Review |
| title_short | Walking and Hippocampal Formation Volume Changes: A Systematic Review |
| title_sort | walking and hippocampal formation volume changes a systematic review |
| topic | walking hippocampus hippocampal volume plasticity subiculum parahippocampal gyrus |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/1/52 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mohamedheshamkhalil walkingandhippocampalformationvolumechangesasystematicreview |