scholarly journals Associations Between Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Cardiovascular Risk, and Cognition Are Mediated by Structural Brain Health in Midlife

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Goretti España‐Irla ◽  
Joyce Gomes‐Osman ◽  
Gabriele Cattaneo ◽  
Sergiu Albu ◽  
María Cabello‐Toscano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Visuospatial Abilities ◽  
Mechanistic Pathway ◽  
Cortical Regions ◽  
The Relationship

Background Evidence in older adults suggests that higher cardiorespiratory fitness and lower cardiovascular risk are associated with greater cognition. However, given that changes in the brain that lead to cognitive decline begin decades before the onset of symptoms, understanding the mechanisms by which modifiable cardiovascular factors are associated with brain health in midlife is critical and can lead to the development of strategies to promote and maintain brain health as we age. Methods and Results In 501 middle‐aged (aged 40–65 years) adult participants of the BBHI (Barcelona Brain Health Initiative), we found differential associations among cardiorespiratory fitness, cardiovascular risk, and cognition and cortical thickness. Higher cardiorespiratory fitness was significantly associated with better visuospatial abilities and frontal loading abstract problem solving (β=3.16, P =0.049) in the older middle‐aged group (aged 55–65 years). In contrast, cardiovascular risk was negatively associated with better visuospatial reasoning and problem‐solving abilities (β=−0.046, P =0.002), flexibility (β=−0.054, P <0.001), processing speed (β=−0.115, P <0.001), and memory (β=−0.120, P <0.001). Cortical thickness in frontal regions mediated the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and cognition, whereas cortical thickness in a disperse network spanning multiple cortical regions across both hemispheres mediated the relationship between cardiovascular risk and cognition. Conclusions The relationships between modifiable cardiovascular factors, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cardiovascular risk, and cognition are present in healthy middle‐aged adults. These relationships are also mediated by brain structure highlighting a potential mechanistic pathway through which higher cardiorespiratory fitness and lower cardiovascular risk can positively impact cognitive function in midlife.

The relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness, cardiovascular risk factors and atherosclerosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 304 ◽  
pp. 44-52
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Chu ◽  
Mahmoud Al Rifai ◽  
Salim S. Virani ◽  
Clinton A. Brawner ◽  
Khurram Nasir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
The Relationship

scholarly journals Linking cortical atrophy to white matter hyperintensities of presumed vascular origin

2020 ◽  
pp. 0271678X2097417
Author(s):  
Carola Mayer ◽  
Benedikt M Frey ◽  
Eckhard Schlemm ◽  
Marvin Petersen ◽  
Kristin Engelke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
White Matter Hyperintensities ◽  
Small Vessel Disease ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Vascular Lesions ◽  
Cortical Atrophy ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Cortical Regions ◽  
The Relationship

We examined the relationship between white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and cortical neurodegeneration in cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) by investigating whether cortical thickness is a remote effect of WMH through structural fiber tract connectivity in a population at increased risk of CSVD. We measured cortical thickness on T1-weighted images and segmented WMH on FLAIR images in 930 participants of a population-based cohort study at baseline. DWI-derived whole-brain probabilistic tractography was used to define WMH connectivity to cortical regions. Linear mixed-effects models were applied to analyze the relationship between cortical thickness and connectivity to WMH. Factors associated with cortical thickness (age, sex, hemisphere, region, individual differences in cortical thickness) were added as covariates. Median age was 64 [IQR 46–76] years. Visual inspection of surface maps revealed distinct connectivity patterns of cortical regions to WMH. WMH connectivity to the cortex was associated with reduced cortical thickness ( p = 0.009) after controlling for covariates. This association was found for periventricular WMH ( p = 0.001) only. Our results indicate an association between WMH and cortical thickness via connecting fiber tracts. The results imply a mechanism of secondary neurodegeneration in cortical regions distant, yet connected to subcortical vascular lesions, which appears to be driven by periventricular WMH.

scholarly journals Childhood Obesity, Cortical Structure, and Executive Function in Healthy Children

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 2519-2528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Ronan ◽  
Aaron Alexander-Bloch ◽  
Paul C Fletcher
Keyword(s):  
Executive Function ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Cortical Thickness ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
Inferior Frontal Gyrus ◽  
Healthy Children ◽  
Cortical Structure ◽  
Prefrontal Cortical ◽  
Cortical Regions ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract The development of executive function is linked to maturation of prefrontal cortex (PFC) in childhood. Childhood obesity has been associated with changes in brain structure, particularly in PFC, as well as deficits in executive functions. We aimed to determine whether differences in cortical structure mediate the relationship between executive function and childhood obesity. We analyzed MR-derived measures of cortical thickness for 2700 children between the ages of 9 and 11 years, recruited as part of the NIH Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. We related our findings to measures of executive function and body mass index (BMI). In our analysis, increased BMI was associated with significantly reduced mean cortical thickness, as well as specific bilateral reduced cortical thickness in prefrontal cortical regions. This relationship remained after accounting for age, sex, race, parental education, household income, birth-weight, and in-scanner motion. Increased BMI was also associated with lower executive function. Reduced thickness in the rostral medial and superior frontal cortex, the inferior frontal gyrus, and the lateral orbitofrontal cortex partially accounted for reductions in executive function. These results suggest that childhood obesity is associated with compromised executive function. This relationship may be partly explained by BMI-associated reduced cortical thickness in the PFC.

scholarly journals Modifiable factors, cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiovascular risk are associated with cognitive and structural brain health in midlife: Results from the BBHI

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (S10) ◽  
Author(s):  
TP Morris ◽  
Joyce Gomes‐Osman ◽  
Goretti España‐Irla ◽  
Gabriele Cattaneo ◽  
Sergiu Albu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
Modifiable Factors ◽  
Structural Brain

scholarly journals You can’t fix what isn’t broken: eight weeks of exercise do not substantially change cognitive function and biochemical markers in young and healthy adults

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e4675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanne Gourgouvelis ◽  
Paul Yielder ◽  
Sandra T. Clarke ◽  
Hushyar Behbahani ◽  
Bernadette Murphy
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Biochemical Markers ◽  
Exercise Prescription ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Healthy Adults ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
Cognitive Assessments ◽  
Habitual Exercise ◽  
The Relationship

Objective The benefits of exercise on brain health is well known in aging and psychiatric populations. However, the relationship between habitual exercise in young and healthy adults remains unclear. This study explored the effects an eight-week exercise prescription on cognitive function, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cathepsin B (CTHB) in young and healthy adults. Methods A total of 22 low-active, young and healthy adults were recruited from a local university. A total of 12 participants performed an eight-week exercise prescription and 12 participants served as controls. Cognitive assessments, cardiorespiratory fitness and plasma BDNF and CTHB concentrations were measured at baseline and eight weeks. Results Results showed exercise improved cardiorespiratory fitness (p = 0.044, d = 1.48) with no improvements in cognitive function or no changes in plasma BDNF and CTHB concentrations. Conclusion We provide evidence that a short-term course of moderate exercise does not improve cognitive function or change plasma biochemical markers concentrations in young and healthy adults, despite mild improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness. These results suggest that cognitive health may peak during early adulthood leaving little room for improvement throughout this period of the lifespan.

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