title: Cerebrovascular perfusion among older adults is moderated by strength training and gender.
abstract: Cerebral perfusion is important in older adults as it is linked to cognitive declines. Physical activity can improve blood flow in the body but little is known about the relationship between physical activity and cerebral perfusion in older adults. In particular, no study has investigated the relation between strength training and cerebral perfusion. We examined whether different types of physical activity (assessed with the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity questionnaire) were associated with MRI cerebrovascular perfusion in 59 older adults. There was a significant interaction between gender and strength training, such that women who engaged in strength training (weight lifting or calisthenics) at least once per week exhibited significantly greater cerebrovascular perfusion than women who did not. This interaction remained significant after controlling for other physical activity, demographics, and health variables. These findings suggest that regular strength training can be beneficial for cerebrovascular health in women.
authors.affiliation: Idaho State University, Department of Psychology, Pocatello, ID 83209, USA; Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Providence, RI 02912, USA. Electronic address: xuxiao@isu.edu.
authors.forename: Xiaomeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Providence, RI 02912, USA; Butler Hospital Neuroimaging Center, Providence, RI 02906, USA.
authors.forename: Beth A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Jerskey
authors.affiliation: Butler Hospital Neuroimaging Center, Providence, RI 02906, USA.
authors.forename: Denise M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Cote
authors.affiliation: Brown University, Department of Neuroscience, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
authors.forename: Edward G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: Washington University in Saint Louis School of Medicine, Departments of Neurology and Psychology, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Jason J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hassenstab
authors.affiliation: Butler Hospital Neuroimaging Center, Providence, RI 02906, USA; Columbia University Teachers College, Department of Clinical Psychology, New York, NY 10027-6696, USA.
authors.forename: Maura E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ladino
authors.affiliation: Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Providence, RI 02912, USA; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Neurology, New York, NY 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Uraina S
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.affiliation: Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
authors.forename: Donald R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Labbe
authors.affiliation: Kent State University, Department of Psychology, Kent, OH 44242, USA.
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Gunstad
authors.affiliation: Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Department of Medicine, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
authors.forename: Athena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poppas
authors.affiliation: Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Providence, RI 02912, USA; University of Florida, Center for Cognitive Aging and Memory, Departments of Neurology, Psychiatry and Aging, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
authors.forename: Ronald A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Université de Montréal, Departments of Neuroscience and Radiology, Centre de recherche de l'institut universitaire de gériatrie, Succ. Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada.
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Hoge
authors.affiliation: Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Providence, RI 02912, USA; Butler Hospital Neuroimaging Center, Providence, RI 02906, USA; University of Georgia, Department of Psychology, Athens, GA 30602-3013, USA.
authors.forename: Lawrence H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Sweet
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000098:blood supply*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: ASL; Cerebral perfusion; Physical activity; Sex; Strength training