Understanding Depression: The Impact of Trauma and the Role of Exercise

Maltreatment significantly influences the etiology of depression, creating distinct types that differ from typical depression. Individuals with a history of trauma, though they may have concerns about brain structure like hippocampus size, can find hope in evidence showing that exercise increases gray matter volume in the hippocampus. Multiple studies, including randomized controlled trials, support the positive impact of physical activity on brain health, highlighting a way to mitigate the effects of past trauma.