A recent study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry reveals that cardiorespiratory aerobic exercise begins to lower the risk of depression starting at age 14. Researchers analyzed data from the Trondheim Early Secure Study, following 873 children over 12 years. The protective effect of physical activity against depressive symptoms was noted in teens aged 14-18, with vigorous exercise particularly beneficial. This highlights the importance of encouraging physical activity in adolescents, especially during this critical psychological phase of development.
"Although we found that physical activity seems to protect against depression symptoms in adolescence, this did not apply to young adolescents aged 10-14," first author Silje Steinsbekk said in a May 2025 news release.
"This finding was true for teens who were 14 to 16 years old and 16 to 18 years old. Both the sum of daily physical activity, and the proportion of activity that is more intense and particularly important for our health, turned out to protect against symptoms of depression," she added.
The antidepressant power of cardiorespiratory aerobic exercise doesn't kick in until after age 14, according to a new peer-reviewed study.
Understanding when and how cardio starts to fortify someone's ability to fight off depression could help teens and parents make better-informed choices during a psychologically vulnerable window of childhood development.
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