title: Modifiable Risk Factors and Brain Positron Emission Tomography Measures of Amyloid and Tau in Nondemented Adults with Memory Complaints.
abstract: Exercise and diet impact body composition, but their age-related brain effects are unclear at the molecular imaging level. To address these issues, the authors determined whether body mass index (BMI), physical activity, and diet relate to brain positron emission tomography (PET) of amyloid plaques and tau tangles using 2-(1-(6-[(2-[F-18]fluoroethyl)(methyl)amino]-2-naphthyl)ethylidene)malononitrile (FDDNP).
  
  
  
  Volunteers (N = 44; mean age: 62.6 ± 10.7 years) with subjective memory impairment (N = 24) or mild cognitive impairment (MCI; N = 20) were recruited by soliciting for memory complaints. Levels of physical activity and extent of following a Mediterranean-type diet were self-reported. FDDNP-PET scans assessed plaque/tangle binding in Alzheimer disease-associated regions (frontal, parietal, medial and lateral temporal, posterior cingulate). Mixed models controlling for known covariates examined BMI, physical activity, and diet in relation to FDDNP-PET.
  
  
  
  MCI subjects with above normal BMI (>25) had higher FDDNP-PET binding compared with those with normal BMI (1.11(0.03) versus 1.08(0.03), ES = 1.04, t(35) = 3.3, p = 0.002). Greater physical activity was associated with lower FDDNP-PET binding in MCI subjects (1.07(0.03) versus 1.11(0.03), ES = 1.13, t(35) = -3.1, p = 0.004) but not in subjects with subjective memory impairment (1.07(0.03) versus 1.07(0.03), ES = 0.02, t(35) = -0.1, p = 0.9). Healthier diet related to lower FDDNP-PET binding, regardless of cognitive status (1.07(0.03) versus 1.09(0.02), ES = 0.72, t(35) = -2.1, p = 0.04).
  
  
  
  These preliminary findings are consistent with a relationship between risk modifiersand brain plaque/tangle deposition in nondemented individuals and supports maintenance of normal body weight, regular physical activity, and healthy diet to protect the brain during aging. (clinicaltrials.gov; NCT00355498).
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, and Longevity Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA. Electronic address: dmerrill@mednet.ucla.edu.
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Merrill
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, and Longevity Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Prabha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Siddarth
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, UCLA Health System, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Cyrus A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Raji
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, and Longevity Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Natacha D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Emerson
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, and Longevity Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Florangel
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rueda
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, and Longevity Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Linda M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ercoli
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, and Longevity Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Karen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, and Longevity Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lavretsky
authors.affiliation: Center for Cognitive Neurosciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Laurel M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Center for Cognitive Neurosciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Alison C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Burggren
authors.affiliation: Center for Cognitive Neurosciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Susan Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Bookheimer
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, Center for Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Jorge R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Barrio
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, Semel Institute for Neuroscience & Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, and Longevity Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Gary W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Small
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D038441:Diet, Mediterranean / Q000523:psychology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016874:Neurofibrillary Tangles / Q000473:pathology; D058225:Plaque, Amyloid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D065840:Protective Factors; D012647:Self-Assessment
keywords: Alzheimer disease; FDDNP; PET; exercise