Journal
CURRENT ALZHEIMER RESEARCH
Volume 9, Issue 4, Pages 436-446Publisher
BENTHAM SCIENCE PUBL LTD
DOI: 10.2174/156720512800492477
Keywords
Apolipoprotein E; cognitive activity; cognitive decline; functional magnetic resonance imaging; hippocampus; physical activity
Categories
Funding
- NIH [R01 AG022304]
- Medical College of Wisconsin General Clinical Research Center [M01 RR00058]
- Medical College of Wisconsin
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Background: Engagement in cognitively stimulating activities (CA) and leisure time physical activity (PA) have been associated with maintaining cognitive performance and reducing the likelihood of cognitive decline in older adults. However, neural mechanisms underlying protective effects of these lifestyle behaviors are largely unknown. In the current study, we investigated the effect of self-reported PA and CA on hippocampal volume and semantic processing activation during a fame discrimination task, as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We also examined whether possession of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) epsilon 4 allele could moderate the effect of PA or CA on hippocampal structure or function. Methods: Seventy-eight healthy, cognitively intact older adults underwent baseline neuropsychological assessment, hippocampal volume measurement via manually-traced structural MRI, and task-activated fMRI. Results: After 18 months, 27 participants declined by one standard deviation or more on follow-up neuropsychological testing. Logistic regression analyses revealed that CA alone or in combination with baseline hippocampal structure or functional activity did not predict the probability of cognitive decline. In contrast, PA interacted with APOE epsilon 4 status such that engagement in PA reduced the risk of cognitive decline in APOE epsilon 4 carriers only. Furthermore, the benefits of PA appeared to diminish with reduced functional activity or volume in the hippocampus. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that increased leisure time PA is associated with reduced probability of cognitive decline in persons who are at high risk for AD. The beneficial effects of PA in this group may be related to enhancement of the functional and structural integrity of the hippocampus.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available