08/03/2026
Whilst we've been advertising our OMRF Gala, exciting research continues to take place right here at Otago, and that's why our fundraising events are such an important activity for the Foundation.
🧠 How exercise helps the brain stay healthy 🧠
Dementia is increasing in New Zealand and worldwide, and there are no effective treatments available. Because of this, researchers are looking for ways to keep our brains healthy for longer. One promising approach is exercise.
Dr Kate Thomas from the Dunedin School of Medicine at the University of Otago was awarded an OMRF Annual Grant in 2024, generously supported by Aotearoa Gaming Trust. Her project looked at how exercise affects a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). BDNF supports brain cells, helps the brain adapt and learn, and is thought to play an important role in maintaining memory and thinking ability as we age.
In this mechanistic study, healthy volunteers completed intense exercise tests both at sea level and at high altitude. For the first time, researchers measured BDNF in blood going to and from the brain during exercise. This allowed them to better understand where BDNF comes from and how it becomes available to the brain.
The researchers found that:
💪 Exercise doubled the amount of active BDNF in the blood.
⛰️ This effect still occurred at high altitude (a low-oxygen environment).
🩸 Tiny blood cells called platelets store BDNF and release it during exercise, helping make it available to the brain.
These findings help explain why exercise is so beneficial for brain health. Understanding how BDNF is released could eventually help scientists design new strategies to protect the brain, slow cognitive decline, and support healthy ageing.
In short: exercise doesn’t just strengthen the body - it also helps activate biological processes that support a healthier brain.
