As we age, our bone mass decreases and in turn, we produce less osteocalcin. However, regular exercise helps the body build bone mass. This may explain the positive effects exercise has on the aging brain (specifically age-related memory loss), as the maintenance of bone mass due to vigorous exercise results in healthy levels of osteocalcin, and in turn a reduction of age-related memory loss. 

Osteocalcin Production and Exercise

When osteocalcin is injected into the dentate gyrus of mice, it leads to an increase in proteins necessary for memory formation such as RbAp48. As a result, when old mice were given osteocalcin, their performance on memory tasks matched that of young mice. Additionally, osteocalcin improved the learning capabilities of young mice. 

Hofstra University

Osteocalcin is a hormone produced by our bones. It affects the production of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, which in turn promotes spatial memory and learning.

Osteocalcin

As people get older, gene RbAp48 becomes increasingly inactive in the dentate gyrus, thus creating less of its protein. This was reflected in tests on mice. When the RbAp48 gene was removed from young mice, they performed just as poorly on spatial tasks as older mice. Increasing the expression of the gene in older mice eliminated age-related memory loss, allowing them to perform as  if they were young mice.

The Effects of  Gene RbAp48 on Age-Related Memory Loss

Kandel, E. R. (2019). Memory, The Storehouse of The Self: Dementia. In The disordered mind: What unusual brains tell us about ourselves (p. 115-117). essay, Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

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