Using a combination of advanced genetic analysis and sophisticated microscopy, scientists discovered a specific type of brain support cells—called astrocytes—a subpopulation (or group of cells) that are rich in a protein called cadherin-4 (shown in magenta). These cells might help connect the brain's blood vessels and nerve cells. In Alzheimer's disease, this group of cells becomes less abundant, but exercise seems to strengthen them. In the image, astrocytes are shown in orange, blood vessels in green, and cell nuclei in blue. Credit: Mass General Brigham

Using advanced single-nuclei RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) and a widely used preclinical model for Alzheimer's disease, researchers from Mass General Brigham and collaborators at SUNY Upstate Medical University have identified specific brain cell types that responded most to exercise.

These findings, which were validated in samples from people, shed light on the connection between exercise and brain health and point to future drug targets. Results are published in Nature Neuroscience.

"While we've long known that exercise helps protect the brain, we didn't fully understand which cells were responsible or how it worked at a molecular level, " said senior author Christiane D. Wrann, DVM, Ph.D., a neuroscientist and leader of the Program in Neuroprotection in Exercise at the Mass General Brigham Heart and Vascular Institute and the McCance Center for Brain Health at Massachusetts General Hospital.

"Now, we have a detailed map of how exercise impacts each major cell type in the memory center of the brain in Alzheimer's disease."

The study focused on a part of the hippocampus—a critical region for memory and learning that is damaged early in Alzheimer's disease. The research team leveraged single-nuclei RNA sequencing, a relatively new technology that allows researchers to look at activity at the molecular level in single cells for an in-depth understanding of diseases like Alzheimer's.

The researchers exercised a common mouse model of Alzheimer's disease using running wheels, which improved their memory compared to their sedentary counterparts.

They then analyzed gene activity across thousands of individual brain cells, finding that exercise changed activity both in microglia, a disease-associated population of brain cells, and in a specific type of neurovascular-associated astrocyte (NVA), newly discovered by the team, which are cells associated with blood vessels in the brain.

Furthermore, the scientists identified the metabolic gene Atpif1 as an important regulator for creating new neurons in the brain.

"That we were able to modulate newborn neurons using our new target genes set underscores the promise of our study, " said lead author Joana Da Rocha, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow working in Dr. Wrann's lab.

To ensure the findings were relevant to humans, the team validated their discoveries in a large dataset of human Alzheimer's brain tissue, finding striking similarities.

"This work not only sheds light on how exercise benefits the brain but also uncovers potential cell-specific targets for future Alzheimer's therapies, " said Nathan Tucker, a biostatistician at SUNY Upstate Medical University and co-senior author of the study.

"Our study offers a valuable resource for the scientific community investigating Alzheimer's prevention and treatment."

More information: da Rocha JF et al. Protective exercise responses in the dentate gyrus of Alzheimer's disease mouse model revealed with RNA-single-nucleus sequencing, Nature Neuroscience (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-025-01971-w  Journal information: Nature Neuroscience