A new clinical study by American researchers has shown that consistent physical activity can make the brain biologically younger. Participants who followed recommended exercise levels for a year demonstrated a more “youthful” brain profile on MRI scans compared with those who did not change their lifestyle. The findings were published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science (JSHS).

The study involved 130 healthy adults aged 26 to 58. One group followed World Health Organization guidelines for 12 months — about 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic activity per week — while the second group maintained their usual level of physical activity.

At the end of the experiment, scientists assessed the so-called biological age of the brain, a measure reflecting the degree of aging in neural tissue based on MRI data and biomarkers. The physically active participants’ brains appeared on average 0.6 years younger than their chronological age. In contrast, those in the control group showed brains that were about 0.35 years “older” than their actual age. Overall, the difference between the groups approached one year.

Biological aging refers not simply to the number of years lived, but to the accumulation of micro-damage and functional changes in tissues. A “younger” brain may be associated with better cognitive function and greater resilience to neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia, although these risks were not directly assessed in the study.

Interestingly, the researchers were unable to pinpoint the exact mechanisms behind the effect. Improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness or reductions in blood pressure were expected to play a key role, but statistical analysis did not support this. The authors suggest the benefits may be linked to more subtle processes, such as reduced inflammation, changes in the brain’s vascular system, or molecular shifts that are currently difficult to measure.