people have gene variants that cause them to create more of
this protein, and a recent study found that those who had
this gene tested on average six points higher on a test of
broad cognitive domains, including language, executive
function, visual and spatial intelligence, and learning and
memory. While you may be tempted to exclaim, “See, it’s
all in your genes!” the good news is that Klotho can be
boosted with aerobic exercise. What’s more, Klotho
expression, like BDNF, is thought to be dependent on
fitness level, so the more exercise you perform (and the
fitter you become), the more just a single bout of exercise
will raise levels of Klotho.^6
But beefing up your hippocampus doesn’t just protect
you from aging. While the hippocampus is one of the first
parts of the brain to be attacked in Alzheimer’s disease, it is
also highly vulnerable to the insults of chronic stress.
Chronically elevated cortisol, a consequence of the body’s
“fight-or-flight” system being overstimulated, can damage
the hippocampus. This creates a negative feedback loop, as
it is the hippocampus that largely dictates how calmly (or
frantically) the brain will respond to a given event. This is
because regions of the brain involved in fear and emotion
“consult” with the hippocampus to determine how best to
respond. As research has shown, by reinforcing this
memory structure with exercise, we powerfully augment our
brains to become more resilient to psychological stress.