TY - JOUR
T1 - Actigraphy-estimated physical activity is associated with functional and structural brain connectivity among older adults
AU - BIOCARD Research Team
AU - Soldan, Anja
AU - Alfini, Alfonso
AU - Pettigrew, Corinne
AU - Faria, Andreia
AU - Hou, Xirui
AU - Lim, Chantelle
AU - Lu, Hanzhang
AU - Spira, Adam P.
AU - Zipunnikov, Vadim
AU - Albert, Marilyn
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022
PY - 2022/8
Y1 - 2022/8
N2 - Higher physical activity levels are associated with reduced cognitive decline among older adults; however, current understanding of underlying brain mechanisms is limited. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between actigraphy-estimated total volume of physical activity (TVPA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures of white matter hyperintensities (WMH), and functional and structural brain connectivity, measured by resting-state functional MRI and diffusion tensor imaging. Study participants (N = 156, mean age = 71 years) included 136 with normal cognition and 20 with Mild Cognitive Impairment. Higher TVPA was associated with greater functional connectivity within the default-mode network and greater network modularity (a measure of network specialization), as well as with greater anisotropy and lower radial diffusion in white matter, suggesting better structural connectivity. These associations with functional and structural connectivity were independent of one another and independent of the level of vascular risk, APOE-ε4 status, cognitive reserve, and WMH volume, which were not associated with TVPA. Findings suggest that physical activity is beneficial for brain connectivity among older individuals with varying levels of risk for cognitive decline.
AB - Higher physical activity levels are associated with reduced cognitive decline among older adults; however, current understanding of underlying brain mechanisms is limited. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between actigraphy-estimated total volume of physical activity (TVPA) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures of white matter hyperintensities (WMH), and functional and structural brain connectivity, measured by resting-state functional MRI and diffusion tensor imaging. Study participants (N = 156, mean age = 71 years) included 136 with normal cognition and 20 with Mild Cognitive Impairment. Higher TVPA was associated with greater functional connectivity within the default-mode network and greater network modularity (a measure of network specialization), as well as with greater anisotropy and lower radial diffusion in white matter, suggesting better structural connectivity. These associations with functional and structural connectivity were independent of one another and independent of the level of vascular risk, APOE-ε4 status, cognitive reserve, and WMH volume, which were not associated with TVPA. Findings suggest that physical activity is beneficial for brain connectivity among older individuals with varying levels of risk for cognitive decline.
KW - Accelerometry
KW - Functional connectivity
KW - Physical activity
KW - White matter hyperintensities
KW - White matter microstructure
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85129724700&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85129724700&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2022.04.006
DO - 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2022.04.006
M3 - Article
C2 - 35551019
AN - SCOPUS:85129724700
SN - 0197-4580
VL - 116
SP - 32
EP - 40
JO - Neurobiology of aging
JF - Neurobiology of aging
ER -