2020
DOI: 10.18632/aging.104112
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Is cardiovascular fitness associated with structural brain integrity in midlife? Evidence from a population-representative birth cohort study

Abstract: Improving cardiovascular fitness may buffer against age-related cognitive decline and mitigate dementia risk by staving off brain atrophy. However, it is unclear if such effects reflect factors operating in childhood (neuroselection) or adulthood (neuroprotection). Using data from 807 members of the Dunedin Study, a population-representative birth cohort, we investigated associations between cardiovascular fitness and structural brain integrity at age 45, and the extent to which associations reflected possible… Show more

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Cited by 5 publications
(8 citation statements)
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“…Our results regarding the fitness-related preservation of hippocampal volume in the context of sleep disturbance are compelling as several prior studies have identified a salubrious impact of exercise and/or improvements in fitness on brain volume and structural integrity in later life [ 13 , 25 , 26 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. One such study found that higher aerobic fitness was associated with larger hippocampal volume [ 24 ], whereas another study found that higher fitness was linked to reduced age-related brain atrophy in the frontal, parietal, and temporal cortices [ 27 ]; and a 12-week exercise intervention in a sample comprised of both older adults with normal cognition ( n = 16) and individuals with mild cognitive impairment ( n = 14) demonstrated that increased cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with greater cortical thickness after exercise training in the bilateral insula, precuneus, posterior cingulate, precentral gyri, and inferior and superior frontal cortices [ 55 ].…”
Section: Discussionsupporting
confidence: 62%
See 1 more Smart Citation
“…Our results regarding the fitness-related preservation of hippocampal volume in the context of sleep disturbance are compelling as several prior studies have identified a salubrious impact of exercise and/or improvements in fitness on brain volume and structural integrity in later life [ 13 , 25 , 26 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. One such study found that higher aerobic fitness was associated with larger hippocampal volume [ 24 ], whereas another study found that higher fitness was linked to reduced age-related brain atrophy in the frontal, parietal, and temporal cortices [ 27 ]; and a 12-week exercise intervention in a sample comprised of both older adults with normal cognition ( n = 16) and individuals with mild cognitive impairment ( n = 14) demonstrated that increased cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with greater cortical thickness after exercise training in the bilateral insula, precuneus, posterior cingulate, precentral gyri, and inferior and superior frontal cortices [ 55 ].…”
Section: Discussionsupporting
confidence: 62%
“…Older individuals who engage in regular fitness training exhibit larger hippocampal volume, better spatial memory, and higher levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) [ 24 , 25 , 26 ]. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) demonstrate that both exercise training and higher fitness increase hippocampal volume and boost executive function and memory performance [ 24 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. Likewise, short-term (10 days) exercise cessation has been shown to reduce hippocampal blood flow in master athletes [ 31 ].…”
Section: Introductionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…The left STG has largely been implicated in speech processing and comprehension 61,62 and in speech-related social cognition 61,62 ; however, in recent years its role in social cognition and information processing has also been highlighted [63][64][65] . Although few studies focused on CT measures in relation to aerobic fitness, previous research has reported specific positive associations of VO 2 max with the GMV 43,66 and CT of the left STG 13,67 . Moreover, moderate-intensity aerobic training may slow down cortical thinning in several brain areas in patients with Alzheimer's Disease 68 , and mean CT is also positively related with physical activity habits in cognitively healthy individuals 69 .…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Compared to healthy controls, coronary artery disease showed significant decreases GMV in the posterior cerebellum and cardiovascular rehabilitation was associated with the recovery of regional GMV in the posterior cerebellum ( Anazodo et al, 2013 ). Recently, d’Arbeloff et al (2020) investigated the associations between cardiovascular fitness and structural brain integrity in a cohort of 807 members. Results showed that aerobic endurance (indexed by VO2Max) is associated with greater cerebellar gray matter volume.…”
Section: Discussionmentioning
confidence: 99%