title: Daily Physical Activity Is Associated with Subcortical Brain Volume and Cognition in Heart Failure.
abstract: Cognitive impairment in heart failure (HF) is believed to in part stem from structural brain alterations, including shrinkage of subcortical regions. Fortunately, neurocognitive dysfunction in HF can be mitigated by physical activity (PA), though mechanisms for this phenomenon are unclear. PA is protective against age-related cognitive decline that may involve improved structural integrity to brain regions sensitive to aging (e.g., subcortical structures). Yet, no study has examined the benefits of PA on the brain in HF and we sought to do so and clarify related cognitive implications. Fifty older adults with HF completed a neuropsychological battery and wore an accelerometer for 7 days. All participants underwent brain MRI. This study targeted subcortical brain volume given subcortical alterations are often observed in HF and the sensitivity of PA to subcortical structures in other patient populations. Participants averaged 4348.49 (SD=2092.08) steps per day and greater daily steps predicted better attention/executive function, episodic memory, and language abilities, p's<.05. Medical and demographically adjusted regression analyses revealed higher daily steps per day predicted greater subcortical volume, with specific effects for the thalamus and ventral diencephalon, p's<.05. Greater subcortical volume was associated with better attention/executive function, p<.05. Higher daily PA was associated with increased subcortical brain volume and better cognition in older adults with HF. Longitudinal work is needed to clarify whether daily PA can attenuate brain atrophy in HF to reduce accelerated cognitive decline in this population.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Psychological Sciences,Kent State University,Kent,Ohio.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Alosco
authors.affiliation: 2Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain,Department of Neurology,College of Physicians and Surgeons,Columbia University,New York,New York.
authors.forename: Adam M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Brickman
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Psychological Sciences,Kent State University,Kent,Ohio.
authors.forename: Mary Beth
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Spitznagel
authors.affiliation: 3Department of Psychology,University of Georgia,Athens,Georgia.
authors.forename: Lawrence H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Sweet
authors.affiliation: 4University Hospitals Case Medical Center and Department of Medicine,Cleveland,Ohio.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Josephson
authors.affiliation: 2Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain,Department of Neurology,College of Physicians and Surgeons,Columbia University,New York,New York.
authors.forename: Erica Y
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.affiliation: 2Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer's Disease and the Aging Brain,Department of Neurology,College of Physicians and Surgeons,Columbia University,New York,New York.
authors.forename: Atul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Narkhede
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Psychological Sciences,Kent State University,Kent,Ohio.
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Psychological Sciences,Kent State University,Kent,Ohio.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gunstad
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001288:Attention; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D056344:Executive Function; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007802:Language; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D061212:Memory, Episodic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests
keywords: Accelerometry; Brain volume; Cognitive function; Heart failure; MRI; Physical activity