Biological Mechanisms of Physical Activity in Preventing Cognitive Decline

Lista, Ilaria; Sorrentino, Giuseppe

doi:10.1007/s10571-009-9488-x

Cited by 308 publications

(224 citation statements)

References 131 publications

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“…PA also has direct impacts on the brain, as studies have shown that PA reduces oxidative stress and inflammatory markers, and increases neurogenesis, angiogenesis, and synaptogenesis in the brain [57,58]. The directionality between PA and neurocognition remains unclear as it might be the case that participants with better neurocognitive function are better able to adhere to a specific PA regimen.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Longitudinal Analysis of the Impact of Physical Activity on Neurocognitive Functioning Among HIV-Infected Adults

et al. 2016

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Higher levels of physical activity (PA) have been linked to better neurocognitive functioning in many populations. The current study examines the longitudinal association between PA and neurocognitive functioning among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected persons. Community-dwelling adults (N = 291) self-reported level of PA and completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery at two to four study visits (Mean follow-up time = 2.6 years). Participants were divided into three PA groups: ''No PA'' (no PA at any visit), ''consistent PA'' (PA at C50% of visits), and ''inconsistent PA'' (PA \ 50% of visits). A mixed effect model, adjusting for significant covariates showed that all PA groups had statistically significant, yet modest, neurocognitive decline over time; and, the consistent PA group began with, and maintained, significantly better neurocognitive function compared to the other two PA groups. This effect was evident among both HIV-uninfected and HIV-infected persons, despite the fact that HIV-infected persons showed lower baseline neurocognitive function. PA is a modifiable lifestyle behavior that may help to protect against neurocognitive impairment regardless of HIV status, however, given the proportion of HIV-infected individuals who evidence neurocognitive difficulties, a focus on increasing PA seems warranted.Resumen La actividad física (AF) ha sido asociada con un mejor funcionamiento neurocognitivo en varios grupos. Este estudio examinó la asociación longitudinal entre la AF y el funcionamiento neurocognitivo en personas con y sin infección del VIH. Adultos viviendo en la comunidad (N = 291) proporcionaron información acerca de sus niveles de AF y completaron una batería neuropsicológica exhaustiva. Los participantes completaron entre dos y cuatro visitas relacionadas con el estudio (tiempo de seguimiento promedio = 2,6 años) y fueron divididos en tres grupos de AF: ''Ninguna AF'' (Ninguna AF durante todas las visitas del estudio), ''AF Consistente'' (AF durante 50% o más de las visitas del estudio), y ''AF Inconsistente'' (AF durante menos del 50% de las visitas del estudio). Un modelo estadístico mixto, ajustando por el efecto de variables externas, indicó que hubo una reducción estadísticamente significativa, pero poco pronunciada, en el funcionamiento neurocognitivo en todos los grupos. Además, el grupo con AF Consistente demostró un mejor funcionamiento neurocognitivo en comparación con los otros dos grupos de AF al comienzo del estudio, el cual se mantuvo durante el seguimiento. A pesar de que las personas con VIH demostraron un funcionamiento neurocognitivo más bajo al comienzo del estudio que las personas sin VIH, el efecto de AF fue demostrado en los dos grupos. Es importante recalcar que la AF es un factor de vida modificable que podría proteger contra los daños neurocognitivos independientemente de si las personas tienen o no VIH. Dada la proporción de personas con VIH que demuestran problemas neurocognitivos relacionados con esta enfermedad, será importante enfocar los esfuerzos ...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Longitudinal Analysis of the Impact of Physical Activity on Neurocognitive Functioning Among HIV-Infected Adults

et al. 2016

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“…Evidence suggests that exercise, which improves fitness levels, influences signaling pathways and the neuroplasticity of the brain, reducing brain atrophy and cognitive decline with age. 26,27 These pathways were not explored in the current investigation. Instead, secondary analysis for this investigation focused on the link between CV fitness and vascular dysfunction.…”

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Midlife exercise blood pressure, heart rate, and fitness relate to brain volume 2 decades later

et al. 2016

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Objective: To determine whether poor cardiovascular (CV) fitness and exaggerated exercise blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were associated with worse brain morphology in later life.Methods: Framingham Offspring participants (n 5 1,094, 53.9% female) free from dementia and CV disease (CVD) underwent an exercise treadmill test at a mean age of 40 6 9 years. A second treadmill test and MRI scans of the brain were administered 2 decades later at mean age of 58 6 8 years.Results: Poor CV fitness and greater diastolic BP and HR response to exercise at baseline were associated with a smaller total cerebral brain volume (TCBV) almost 2 decades later (all p , 0.05) in multivariable adjusted models; the effect of 1 SD lower fitness was equivalent to approximately 1 additional year of brain aging in individuals free of CVD. In participants with prehypertension or hypertension at baseline, exercise systolic BP was also associated with smaller TCBV (p , 0.05). Conclusion:Our results suggest that lower CV fitness and exaggerated exercise BP and HR responses in middle-aged adults are associated with smaller brain volume nearly 2 decades later. Promotion of midlife CV fitness may be an important step towards ensuring healthy brain aging. Cardiovascular (CV) fitness is emerging as a factor associated with cognitive health in older age.1,2 Cross-sectional and short-term (2-year) observational studies have demonstrated that lower fitness levels are associated with increased brain atrophy in patients with Alzheimer disease. 3,4 Similarly, healthy elderly individuals with low fitness have increased cerebral white matter hyperintensity volume (WMHV).5 A recent study also reported that higher physical fitness levels in middle-aged adults was associated with larger brain volumes 5 years later. 6Exercise training programs may increase cerebral blood flow and oxygen delivery, 7 improve neuroplasticity, and prevent age-related brain atrophy over the short term, 2,8 but it is not clear whether physical fitness throughout adulthood has an impact on brain aging in later life.Higher CV fitness may also reduce the impact of vascular risk factors 9,10 that are associated with brain structural abnormalities and cognitive decline.11,12 Poor CV fitness and vascular dysfunction exaggerate fluctuations in blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) during lowlevel exercise.13-15 Therefore, the hemodynamic response to low-level exercise may unmask underlying vascular dysfunction and poor CV fitness. Exaggerated exercise hemodynamics has been associated with target organ damage 16 in relation to CV disease (CVD), 17 but the association of midlife exercise hemodynamics and fitness with late-life brain structure has not

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“…34 The mechanism by which VȮ 2 max is related to cognitive function is unclear. 35 Exercise is known to enhance cerebral blood flow, 36 capillary density, substrate exchange, and antioxidative mechanisms. 1 Some of the effect of VȮ 2 max on cognition might also be conveyed indirectly by counteracting depression in the elderly.…”

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confidence: 99%

Fitness and cognition in the elderly

et al. 2016

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Objective: To investigate whether greater cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with better global and domain-specific cognitive function. Methods:We investigated 877 participants (aged 65 6 7 years, 55% women) of the Austrian Stroke Prevention Study. For cardiorespiratory fitness, the maximum oxygen consumption (VȮ 2 max) was calculated based on weight and maximum and resting heart rate on a treadmill test (mL$kg 21 $min 21 ). A test battery assessing memory (Bäumler's Lern-und Gedächtnistest), executive function (Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Trail Making Test-Part B, Digit Span Backward, Alters Konzentrationstest, a computerized complex reaction time task) and motor skills (Purdue Pegboard Test) was administered. Summary measures for cognitive domains and for global cognition were calculated. White matter lesions, lacunes, and brain atrophy were assessed using MRI.Results: Higher VȮ 2 max was associated with better global (B 5 0.024; p 5 0.000) and domainspecific cognitive function (memory B 5 0.026, p 5 0.000; executive function B 5 0.009, p 5 0.003; motor skills B 5 0.012, p 5 0.018) after adjustment for age, sex, education years, and Ca 21 channel antagonists or b-blockers. White matter lesions, lacunes, or brain atrophy did not mediate the effect (p . 0.05 for all mediators). The interactions of VȮ 2 max with age, overweight, and APOE e4 on cognition were not statistically significant (p . 0.05 for all interaction terms) with the exception of a modulating effect of body mass index on VȮ 2 max in the memory domain. Conclusions:Higher VȮ 2 max is associated with better global cognitive function and with better performance in the cognitive domains of memory, executive function, and motor skills in the middle-aged and elderly. The association is not mediated by the presence of white matter lesions, lacunes, and brain atrophy. LGT 5 Lern-und Gedächtnistest; TE 5 echo time; TR 5 repetition time; VȮ 2 max 5 maximum oxygen consumption; WML 5 white matter lesion.Physical activity 1 and cardiorespiratory fitness 2 have been previously associated with cognitive function in the elderly, and the reduction of Alzheimer and Parkinson disease risk.3 Nevertheless, there is a substantial amount of variability in the results linking cognitive performance to physical activity because of heterogeneity in the assessments across the studies. 4 While physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness are intertwined, their relationships with cognitive performance may be distinct from another. Cardiorespiratory fitness is frequently assessed as the maximum oxygen consumption (VȮ 2 max), which progressively declines with age, 5 but can be increased by prolonged exercise even in the elderly. 6 Cross-sectional observational studies in the elderly found a protective effect of VȮ 2 max on memory 7 and executive function. 8 Similarly, exercise interventional trials improving VȮ 2 max reported improvements in executive function 9 and short-term memory. 10 The mechanism linking higher VȮ 2 max to cognition is, however, not well und...

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Biological Mechanisms of Physical Activity in Preventing Cognitive Decline

Cited by 308 publications

References 131 publications

A Longitudinal Analysis of the Impact of Physical Activity on Neurocognitive Functioning Among HIV-Infected Adults

A Longitudinal Analysis of the Impact of Physical Activity on Neurocognitive Functioning Among HIV-Infected Adults

Midlife exercise blood pressure, heart rate, and fitness relate to brain volume 2 decades later

Fitness and cognition in the elderly

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