title: Physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness are beneficial for white matter in low-fit older adults.
abstract: Physical activity (PA) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are associated with better cognitive function in late life, but the neural correlates for these relationships are unclear. To study these correlates, we examined the association of both PA and CRF with measures of white matter (WM) integrity in 88 healthy low-fit adults (age 60-78). Using accelerometry, we objectively measured sedentary behavior, light PA, and moderate to vigorous PA (MV-PA) over a week. We showed that greater MV-PA was related to lower volume of WM lesions. The association between PA and WM microstructural integrity (measured with diffusion tensor imaging) was region-specific: light PA was related to temporal WM, while sedentary behavior was associated with lower integrity in the parahippocampal WM. Our findings highlight that engaging in PA of various intensity in parallel with avoiding sedentariness are important in maintaining WM health in older age, supporting public health recommendations that emphasize the importance of active lifestyle.
authors.affiliation: The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America.
authors.forename: Agnieszka Zofia
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Burzynska
authors.affiliation: The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chaddock-Heyman
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America.
authors.forename: Michelle W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Voss
authors.affiliation: The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America.
authors.forename: Chelsea N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America.
authors.forename: Neha P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Gothe
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America.
authors.forename: Erin A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.affiliation: The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America.
authors.forename: Anya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Knecht
authors.affiliation: The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jim M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.affiliation: The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America.
authors.forename: Gillian E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Cooke
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America.
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Wojcicki
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fanning
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America.
authors.forename: Hyondo David
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Awick
authors.affiliation: The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America; Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McAuley
authors.affiliation: The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, United States of America.
authors.forename: Arthur F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Kramer
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D010809:Physical Fitness; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012737:Sex Factors; D066127:White Matter / Q000502:physiology*