A surge of brain chemicals triggered by running may improve coordination and speed in both younger and older individuals, according to new research in middle-aged mice. The study suggests that aerobic exercise can help restore smooth, agile movement—abilities that often decline with age—by boosting dopamine release in the brain. The findings add to growing evidence that physical activity supports mobility not only in youth but also later in life.
Led by researchers at NYU Langone Health, the investigation examined how aerobic exercise influences dopamine, a neurotransmitter central to movement, motivation, reward, and memory. The team built on earlier work showing that young male mice experienced lasting increases in dopamine release after a month of voluntary wheel running. The new study asked whether a similar response occurs in older animals, whose brains are typically assumed to be less adaptable.
To explore this, the researchers studied twelve-month-old male mice, roughly equivalent to humans in their fifties. After 30 days of access to a running wheel, these middle-aged mice showed dopamine increases that matched or even exceeded those seen in younger animals. This finding challenges the idea that ageing brains lose their ability to respond to the neurochemical benefits of exercise, instead suggesting that key movement-related pathways remain responsive well into midlife.
The changes in brain chemistry translated into clear functional improvements. Compared with age-matched mice that did not exercise, the runners were faster and more agile when descending a pole or navigating an open arena—tasks that assess balance, coordination, and motor control. Significantly, grip strength did not change after the exercise period. This indicates that the gains were driven by improved neural coordination rather than increased muscle strength, highlighting a direct link between brain chemistry and movement quality.
Senior author Margaret Rice, PhD, a professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, emphasised that the benefits of exercise are not limited to the young. She noted that sufficient physical activity can still stimulate dopamine release later in life, helping people move more easily and efficiently. This perspective reframes exercise as a meaningful intervention for age-related mobility decline, rather than simply a lifestyle choice.
Aerobic exercise—such as running, swimming, cycling, or dancing—has long been known to support brain health and stimulate dopamine release. However, the biological mechanisms underlying these effects in ageing brains have been poorly understood, particularly given that dopamine-producing neurons gradually decline with age. The new findings, published on 9 December in npj Parkinson’s Disease, help clarify this relationship by directly linking exercise-driven dopamine release to improved motor performance in ageing mice of both sexes.
The results may also have implications for Parkinson’s disease, a condition marked by the loss of dopamine-producing neurons and characterised by tremors, slowed movement, and balance problems. Physical activity has long been observed to ease symptoms, but this study provides neurochemical evidence explaining why exercise can improve movement, mood, and memory. While Rice cautions that human studies are still needed, the work strengthens the case for exercise as a powerful, accessible way to support brain health and mobility across the lifespan.
More information: Guendalina Bastioli et al, Voluntary exercise increases striatal dopamine release and improves motor performance in aging mice, npj Parkinson’s Disease. DOI: 10.1038/s41531-025-01213-7
Journal information: npj Parkinson’s Disease Provided by NYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine
