P.1.i.021 Improvement of well-being measures after regular physical exercise correlates with resting state connectivity in attentional and default mode networks

Abstract

P.1.i. Basic and clinical neuroscience − Brain imaging and neuro-modulation S311Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is an advanced magnetic resonance imaging technique, based on the analysis of thermallydependent movement of water molecules in the extracellular space. This method allows to examine pathological changes at the cellular level which are not visible on conventional magnetic resonance (MR). Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) is a mathematically calculated value indicating the diffusion. Reduced ADC value demonstrates a restricted diffusion while increased ADC value indicates a facilitated diffusion.Aim: The aim of this study was to assess changes in ADC values within normal appearing white matter (NAWM) and normal appearing gray matter (NAGM) in patients with MS before initiating the treatment with IFN-Beta and already in the course of treatment, in comparison with a control group.Material and Methods: The study comprised 84 patients divided into three groups: patients with MS before initiating the therapy with IFN-Beta (MS0, n = 28: 22 women, 6 men; average age: 28.8), patients with MS after at least one year of treatment with IFN-Beta (MS1, n = 28: 22 women, 6 men; average age: 30.2) and a control group of patients with no intracranial pathology (CG, n = 28: 20 women, 8 men; average age: 29.8).ADC was measured in 11 regions of interest (ROIs), as follows: 1, 2 − cerebellum at the level of dentate nuclei, 3 − pons, 4, 5 − thalamus, 6, 7 − caudate nuclei, 8, 9 − frontal white matter regions, 10, 11 − fronto-parietal white matter at the convexity. The results were compared between the groups.The study was performed using a 1.5T GE MRI scanner. DWI sequence was performed with the following parametres: b = 0 and b = 1000, TR=8000, TE=81.2, slice thickness = 4 mm.Results: In the examined areas of brain, in ROIs: 8 and 9 the ADC values were statistically significantly higher in MS0 group in comparison with CG (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences in ADC values in ROIs: 8 and 9 between MS1 and CG. However, in ROI 6 the ADC values were significantly lower (p < 0.01), while in ROIs: 10 and 11 significantly higher (p < 0.01) in MS1 group in comaprison with CG.No other statistically significant differences were found between groups: MS0 and CG, MS1 and CG, as well as MS0 and MS1.Conclusions Recently, MRI studies have found that an increased functional connectivity is found after prolonged regular physical exercise in brain networks in the resting state, such as the default mode network (DMN), the fronto-parietal network and in areas of the affective network and that this increase correlates with an improvement of executive function [3,4].Aims: Our study aimed to assess resting state modifications across known brain networks after an extensive period of physical exercise and to investigate their correlations with behavioural measures of mood state and perceived health.Methods: Thirty-eight healthy participants were recruited. They were then randomised to either participate to an aerobic exercise progr...