The relation between accelerometer-derived physical activity and brain structure: A population-based study

Oral Presentation B5.4

Authors

  • Fabienne A. U. Fox German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)
  • Kersten Diers German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)
  • Hweeling Lee German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)
  • Martin Reuter German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)
  • Monique M. B. Breteler German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)
  • N. Ahmad Aziz German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.516

Keywords:

Cohort Study, Accelerometry, MRI

Abstract

Background: Physical activity (PA) promotes neuroplasticity in animals, but human studies examining the relation between PA and brain health are inconclusive. Purpose: To assess whether PA is associated with brain structure in a large cohort study. Methods: Analyses were based on cross-sectional baseline data of 2,649 participants (57.6% female; mean age: 54.7 years, range: 30–94 years) with valid PA and MRI measurements of the Rhineland Study, a prospective cohort study in Bonn (Germany). Metabolic equivalent (MET)-hours, step counts and minutes as well as sedentary, light-intensity and moderate-to-vigorous activities were recorded over 7 days with accelerometers. Brain volumetric and cortical thickness measures were obtained from 3T MRI scans using FreeSurfer. The relation of PA (predictor) and brain structure (outcome) was examined with multivariable regression, while adjusting for age, sex, education, intracranial volume and smoking. Results: MET-hours were associated with greater grey matter volume and precentral thickness. Whereas total brain and grey matter volume increased with more light-intensity activities (Figure 1A), lateral-occipital thickness decreased (Figure 1B). With increasing age, light-intensity activities displayed a stronger effect on total brain volume, but a weaker effect on lateral-occipital volume (Figure 1C&D). In vertex-wise analysis, PA was associated with larger cortical thickness in frontal and temporal areas, but lower thickness in parietal and occipital areas. Conclusions: PA showed a non-uniform association with several volumetric and cortical thickness measures. It may particularly benefit motor regions and contribute to preventing age-associated brain atrophy. Funding: This study was supported by DZNE institutional funds.

Published

2021-09-30

How to Cite

Fox, F., Diers, K., Lee, H., Reuter, M., Breteler, M., & Aziz, A. (2021). The relation between accelerometer-derived physical activity and brain structure: A population-based study: Oral Presentation B5.4. The Health & Fitness Journal of Canada, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.516