Aerobic exercise boosts memory in mice by triggering muscle protein, study finds

Seoul: Mice that run regularly perform better on memory tests thanks to a protein released by working muscles, according to new research from South Korea.

Scientists at Seoul National University and the Korea Brain Research Institute found that aerobic exercise increases levels of the protein Serpina1e in skeletal muscle. The protein enters the bloodstream and travels to the brain, where it strengthens the process that turns short-term memories into long-term ones.

In the study, mice given access to a running wheel showed higher cognitive performance compared with mice that did not exercise. Researchers linked the improvement to elevated Serpina1e secreted by muscles after physical activity.

The findings add to evidence that exercise benefits the brain not only through direct neural effects but also through signals sent from muscle tissue. While the study focused on mice, the team said the muscle-to-brain pathway could be relevant for understanding how physical activity supports human cognition.