Using Exercise to Treat Depression

James Blumenthal, a clinical psychologist at the Duke University Medical Center, will discuss the relationship of exercise and physical activity to mental health. People who are physically inactive are at increased risk not only for a variety of diseases, including diabetes and hypertension, but also for a number of mental health disorders, ranging from clinical depression to dementia. Dr. Blumenthal will share evidence that prescribing exercise for patients with depression may be an effective alternative treatment. James Blumenthal is the JP Gibbons Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Duke University Medical Center. His research examines the effects of lifestyle behaviors, including exercise, on psychological functioning in healthy older adults, in patients with cardiovascular disease, and in individuals with major depression and cognitive impairments. 2016-17 Helen LeBaron Hilton Endowed Chair Lecture Series