The Brain Tumour and Exercise Study investigated whether exercise can improve the recovery and health of the brain in children who have had a brain tumour successfully removed with radiation.

To do this, we tried to answer the following questions:

• What effect does exercise have on the neuro-cognition of children who have survived a brain tumour?
• Does exercise help the brain regrow and recover after undergoing radiation to treat a brain tumour?

What did this study involve?

Children in this study completed a 12-week exercise training program. Before they started training, we assessed the the child’s fitness, body composition (muscle and fat), and motor skills and performed brain imaging (MRI and MEG). After the children finished the training program we re-did all these tests to see if there were improvements.

Who participated in this study?

Children between the ages of 6 and 17 years of age who had a brain tumour treated with craniospinal radiation.

What were the results?

We are putting the results together – stay tuned!