Joe Ahman | 2026 I.S. Symposium
Name: Joe Ahman
Title: Voluntary exercise does not positively impact hippocampal or amygdala function as measured in a middle-aged rodent model
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Advisor: Amy Jo Stavnezer
My project investigated the effect of twelve weeks of voluntary wheel running on two brain regions implicated in Alzheimer’s disease. This was done through separating twenty rats into two groups, then placing a running wheel in one of the group’s cages for twelve weeks. After twelve weeks, these two groups were both put through behavioral testing. Comparing results of behavioral testing in the two groups allowed me to determine whether the rats with a running wheel performed any differently. A difference in performance between groups would indicate their brains may be working differently. I hypothesized that running wheel group would perform better, thereby indicating exercise improves the activity of brain regions implicated in Alzheimer’s disease and can be considered protective against brain breakdown. However, this was found not to be the case. This project was extremely interesting for me because I am fascinated by the potential of preemptively treating chronic disease (in this case Alzheimer’s disease). Pharmaceuticals are expensive and overall not effective at preventing Alzheimer’s disease, but research suggests that basic lifestyle changes like exercise, sleep, and diet can greatly decrease the risk for chronic disease. My IS project examined exercise’ role in preventing Alzheimer’s disease and contributes the literature on the efficacy of preemptive treatments. In the future, this project can be improved through recording how much individual rats are using their running wheel, determining the amount of running needed to create behavioral changes, and looking at protein levels indicative of brain health such as BDNF.
Posted in Symposium 2026 on May 1, 2026.
