title: Using sulcal and gyral measures of brain structure to investigate benefits of an active lifestyle.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Physical activity is associated with brain and cognitive health in ageing. Higher levels of physical activity are linked to larger cerebral volumes, lower rates of atrophy, better cognitive function and a lower risk of cognitive decline and dementia. Neuroimaging studies have traditionally focused on volumetric brain tissue measures to test associations between factors of interest (e.g. physical activity) and brain structure. However, cortical sulci may provide additional information to these more standard measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Associations between physical activity, brain structure, and cognition were investigated in a large, community-based sample of cognitively healthy individuals (N=317) using both sulcal and volumetric measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Physical activity was associated with narrower width of the Left Superior Frontal Sulcus and the Right Central Sulcus, while volumetric measures showed no association with physical activity. In addition, Left Superior Frontal sulcal width was associated with processing speed and executive function.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest sulcal measures may be a sensitive index of physical activity related to cerebral health and cognitive function in healthy older individuals. Further research is required to confirm these findings and to examine how sulcal measures may be most effectively used in neuroimaging.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Ashley J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lamont
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Moyra E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Mortby
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia.
authors.forename: Kaarin J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Anstey
authors.affiliation: Neuropsychiatric Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Perminder S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Sachdev
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia. Electronic address: nicolas.cherbuin@anu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cherbuin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D006262:Health; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008019:Life Style; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D059906:Neuroimaging; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult