Think of physical activity as a shield that protects the intricate wiring of the brain. In this study, researchers investigated whether being physically active could help preserve the integrity of white matter in individuals experiencing aging or prodromal to mild Alzheimer’s disease with vascular comorbidity. They recruited a total of 213 participants who were classified as either physically active or inactive based on a questionnaire. By analyzing diffusion-weighted images of participants’ brains, the researchers found that physically active individuals showed higher levels of fractional anisotropy (FA) and lower levels of axial diffusivity (AxD), mean diffusivity (MD), and radial diffusivity (RD) compared to their inactive counterparts. These effects were observed across various tracts of the brain. Interestingly, physically active patients with high vascular burden exhibited even greater preservation of white matter microstructure compared to inactive patients with the same condition, as well as physically inactive controls with high vascular burden. This suggests that physical activity may have particular benefits for individuals at higher risk. Curious to learn more about how exercise impacts brain health? Check out the full article!

BackgroundPhysical activity is a modifiable lifestyle factor that has been previously associated with reduced vascular burden and reduced risk of dementia.ObjectivesThis study tested whether physical activity (i.e., being inactive vs. active) contributed to preservation of white matter microstructure in healthy aging controls and patients in prodromal to mild Alzheimer’s disease with low/high vascular burden.MaterialsA total of 213 participants were recruited from memory clinics. They were classified as being either physically active (n = 113) or inactive (n = 100) based on the Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging and Dementia (CAIDE) questionnaire. Diffusion-weighted images were acquired for all participants and pre-processed based on a standard protocol.MethodsA factorial design using voxel-wise tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) was adopted, with 5,000 permutations and threshold-free cluster enhancement (TFCE), to identify significant clusters for fractional anisotropy (FA), axial diffusivity (AxD), mean diffusivity (MD), and radial diffusivity (RD).ResultsClusters of higher FA and lower AxD, MD, and RD values were found for physically active compared with inactive participants that were widespread covering mainly association and projection tracts but also some commissural tracts. A three-way Group × Physical Activity × Vascular Burden interaction effect was found for FA mostly in a variety of projection tracts with a right predominance, and some commissural and association tracts. Post hoc analyses revealed higher FA in patients with high vascular burden who were physically active compared with those patients with high vascular burden who were inactive mainly in projection and association/limbic tracts with a right predominance. Additionally, higher FA was observed in physically active patients with high vascular burden as compared with physically inactive controls with high vascular burden, mainly in bilateral projection fibers and cerebellar regions.ConclusionVoxel-wise TBSS analysis revealed better preservation of white matter microstructure that was prominent in the high-risk group such as the patients with high vascular burden, specifically those who were physically active. The beneficial effects of physical activity on white matter microstructure were not observed in the controls.

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