2026 Jean & Bill Booziotis Distinguished Leacture, Dr. Kirk Erickson, Advent Health

Effects of Exercise on Markers of Brain Health

Regular physical activity is one of the most promising ways to promote brain health and reduce the risk of dementia, yet scientists are still working to understand exactly how exercise protects the brain and why some people benefit more than others. This presentation will highlight the latest evidence linking physical activity to healthy brain aging while exploring the biological and methodological factors that influence study outcomes. A central focus will be the IGNITE study, one of the largest randomized clinical trials examining the effects of aerobic exercise on cognitive and brain health in older adults. By integrating cognitive testing with advanced MRI, PET imaging, blood biomarkers, and fitness assessments, IGNITE is revealing how regular physical activity may influence Alzheimer’s disease pathology, neurodegeneration, cerebrovascular health, inflammation, metabolism, and neuroplasticity. These findings are providing new insight into the biological pathways through which exercise may help preserve cognitive function. The presentation will conclude by discussing brain reserve and resilience—why some individuals maintain cognitive health despite age-related brain changes—and how physical activity may strengthen the brain’s ability to adapt, compensate, and remain healthy with age. Together, these discoveries provide an encouraging message that staying physically active is one of the most powerful steps individuals can take to support lifelong brain health and potentially reduce the risk of dementia.

WHEN: Wednesday, October 28 | 6:30 PM - 8 PM
WHERE: Communities Foundation of Texas | 5500 Caruth Haven Ln, Dallas, TX 75225

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TICKETS AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 15, 2026

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Dr. Kirk Erickson is Director of Translational Neuroscience and the Mardian J. Blair Endowed Chair of Neuroscience at the AdventHealth Research Institute. He also holds a research appointment at the University of Pittsburgh. His research program examines how physical activity and related lifestyle factors influence brain health, cognitive function, and neurobiological aging across the lifespan. His work integrates randomized clinical trials, neuroimaging, biomarker assessment, and mechanistic approaches to identify pathways through which exercise promotes brain plasticity and resilience. Dr. Erickson has authored more than 380 peer-reviewed publications and 15 book chapters.

Over the past decade, Dr. Erickson’s research has garnered more than $55 million in competitive funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Alzheimer's Association, and other national and international agencies. He serves as Principal Investigator of a Phase III multi-site randomized clinical trial examining the effects of aerobic exercise on neurocognitive function in late adulthood, as well as a follow-up study extending this work. In recognition of his scientific contributions, he received the Chancellor’s Distinguished Research Award from the University of Pittsburgh. He was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Behavioral Medicine Research in 2016 and received the Distinguished Scientist Award from Murdoch University in 2018. He has served as a Visiting Professor at Murdoch University, the University of South Australia, the University of Granada, and the Max Planck Institute for Human Development.

Dr. Erickson was appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services to serve on the 2018 U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee, where he chaired the Brain Health Subcommittee and contributed to the scientific foundation for national physical activity recommendations. His research has been featured widely in major media outlets, including The New York Times, CNN, BBC News, NPR, Time, and The Wall Street Journal.

Disclosures:
Dr. Erickson is currently a Scientific Advisor for MedRhythms, Inc., Neo Auvra, Inc, and Nestre, Inc.