title: Objectively measured physical activity, brain atrophy, and white matter lesions in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.
abstract: Physical activity may help to prevent or delay brain atrophy. Numerous studies have shown associations between physical activity and age-related changes in the brain. However, most of these studies involved self-reported physical activity, not objectively measured physical activity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the association between objectively measured physical activity, as determined using accelerometers, and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We analyzed 323 older subjects with MCI (mean age 71.4 years) who were recruited from the participants of the Obu Study of Health Promotion for the Elderly. We recorded demographic data and measured physical activity using a tri-axial accelerometer. Physical activity was classified as light-intensity physical activity (LPA) or moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Brain atrophy and the severity of white matter lesions (WML) were determined by MRI. Low levels of LPA and MVPA were associated with severe WML. Subjects with severe WML were older, had lower mobility, and had greater brain atrophy than subjects with mild WML (all P<0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that more MVPA was associated with less brain atrophy, even after adjustment for WML (β=-0.126, P=0.015), but LPA was not (β=-0.102, P=0.136). Our study revealed that objectively measured physical activity, especially MVPA, was associated with brain atrophy in MCI subjects, even after adjusting for WML. These findings support the hypothesis that physical activity plays a crucial role in maintaining brain health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Functioning Activation, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35 Gengo, Morioka, Obu, Aichi 474-8511, Japan; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, 5-3-1, Koujimachi, Chiyoda, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan; Research Institute, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35 Gengo, Morioka, Obu, Aichi 474-8511, Japan. Electronic address: take-d@ncgg.go.jp.
authors.forename: Takehiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Doi
authors.affiliation: Department of Functioning Activation, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35 Gengo, Morioka, Obu, Aichi 474-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Hyuma
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Makizako
authors.affiliation: Department of Functioning Activation, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35 Gengo, Morioka, Obu, Aichi 474-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.affiliation: Department of Functioning Activation, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35 Gengo, Morioka, Obu, Aichi 474-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Kota
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsutsumimoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Functioning Activation, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35 Gengo, Morioka, Obu, Aichi 474-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hotta
authors.affiliation: Department of Functioning Activation, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35 Gengo, Morioka, Obu, Aichi 474-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Sho
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakakubo
authors.affiliation: Department of Functioning Activation, Center for Gerontology and Social Science, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35 Gengo, Morioka, Obu, Aichi 474-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Hyuntae
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Research Institute, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, 35 Gengo, Morioka, Obu, Aichi 474-8511, Japan.
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry / Q000379:methods; D000328:Adult; D001284:Atrophy / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D066127:White Matter / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Accelerometer; Brain atrophy; Mild cognitive impairment; Physical activity