Abstract
Lack of physical activity is a risk factor for dementia, however, the utility of interventional physical activity programs as a protective measure against brain atrophy and cognitive decline is uncertain. Here we present the effect of a randomized controlled trial of a 24-month physical activity intervention on global and regional brain atrophy as characterized by longitudinal voxel-based morphometry with T1-weighted MRI images. The study sample consisted of 98 participants at risk of dementia, with mild cognitive impairment or subjective memory complaints, and having at least one vascular risk factor for dementia, randomized into an exercise group and a control group. Between 0 and 24 months, there was no significant difference detected between groups in the rate of change in global, or regional brain volumes.
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Acknowledgements
We thank Ged Ridgway for his helpful guidance on the use and interpretation of longitudinal voxel-based morphometry.
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This work is supported by a project grant from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council awarded to NTL, PMD, KC, DA, CS, KAE, PMP, MJS, and CM (ID: 1005492) and a Medical Research Council Centre of Excellence grant (ID: 1100579) (awarded to NTL, KAE, KC).
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BS conducted the image processing and wrote the manuscript. NTL led the AIBL Active study. All CIs and AIs on the grant (see funding) designed the study. NTL, EC and KC designed the intervention, PMD and PP designed the imaging protocol. CSt, VV and RA assisted with the image processing. DA and CM oversaw participant selection and recruitment. ML reviewed vascular risk factors of participants. MS is an investigator and was responsible for blood biomarkers. KAE is an investigator and was responsible for coordinating cognitive assessments. All authors assisted with preparation of the manuscript.
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BS, CSt, VV, RA, KC, KAE, DA, CM, PP, MS, EC, ML, NTL, and PMD have no conflict of interest. CSz is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC Grants 547600, 1032350, and 1062133), Ramaciotti Foundation, the Brain Foundation, the Alzheimer’s Association (NIA320312),
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Nicola T. Lautenschlager and Patricia M. Desmond are joint senior authors on this work.
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Sinclair, B., Steward, C., Venkatraman, V. et al. Effects of a physical activity intervention on brain atrophy in older adults at risk of dementia: a randomized controlled trial. Brain Imaging and Behavior 15, 2833–2842 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-021-00577-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-021-00577-7