These guidelines were based on a review of all the available evidence regarding the effects exercise has on mild cognitive impairment.

It has been shown that 20-40 minutes of aerobic exercise causes a 30% increase in serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in healthy men. As little as 15 minutes of aerobic exercise can increase BDNF albeit to a lesser extent. BDNF robustly increases the growth of new neurons in the brain and prevents existing neurons from dying.