Relative Vigorous-Intensity Physical Activity Predicts Brain Microstructural Changes in Older Adults. (17th December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schrack, Jennifer; Landman, Bennett; Wanigatunga, Amal; Resnick, Susan; Ferrucci, Luigi; Tian, Qu
• Is Part Of: Innovation in aging. Volume 5(2021)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 445
• Page End: 445
• Publication Date: 2021-12-17
• Subjects: Aging -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igab046.1720
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-5300

Abstract

Abstract: Physical activity especially at moderate-to-vigorous intensity may preserve brain structure in old age. However, current findings are cross-sectional and rely on absolute intensity. This study aimed to examine whether relative or absolute vigorous-intensity physical activity (VPA) predicts brain microstructural changes. We analyzed 260 initially cognitively normal and well-functioning participants(age=70.5yrs) who had VPA data via ActiHeart and longitudinal brain microstructure by DTI(follow-up=3.7yrs). Associations of VPA with microstructural changes were examined using linear mixed-effects models, adjusted for demographics. Each SD higher relative VPA defined by heart rate reserve (i.e. 21 min/day) was significantly associated with less decline in memory-related microstructural integrity, including mean diffusivity of entorhinal cortex and parahippocampal gyrus and fractional anisotropy of uncinate fasciculus and cingulum-hippocampal part, and not executive/motor-related microstructure. Absolute VPA was not associated with microstructural markers. Among well-functioning older adults, participating in VPA defined by heart rate reserve may predict less brain microstructural decline in memory-related areas.