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de Dieu Uwisengeyimana J, Nguchu BA, Wang Y, Zhang D, Liu Y, Jiang Z, Wang X, Qiu B. Longitudinal resting-state functional connectivity and regional brain atrophy-based biomarkers of preclinical cognitive impairment in healthy old adults. Aging Clin Exp Res 2022; 34:1303-1313. [PMID: 35023051 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-021-02067-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intervention against age-related neurodegenerative diseases may be difficult once extensive structural and functional deteriorations have already occurred in the brain. AIM Investigating 6-year longitudinal changes and implications of regional brain atrophy and functional connectivity in the triple-network model as biomarkers of preclinical cognitive impairment in healthy aging. METHODS We acquired longitudinal cognitive scores and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from 74 healthy old adults. Resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) analysis was conducted using FSL6.0.1 to examine functional connectivity changes and regional brain morphometries were quantified using FreeSurfer5.3. Finally, we cross-validated and compared two support vector machine (SVM) regression models to predict future 6-year cognition score from the baseline regional brain atrophy and resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC) measures. RESULTS After a 6-year follow-up, our results (P < 0.05-corrected) indicated significant connectivity reduction within all the three brain networks, significant differences in regional brain volumes and cortical thickness. We also observed significant improvement in episodic memory and significant decline in executive functions. Finally, comparing the two models, we observed that regional brain atrophy predictors were more efficient in approximating future 6-year cognitive scores (R = 0.756, P < 0.0001) than rs-FC predictors (R = 0.6, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION This study used longitudinal data to keep subject variability low and to increase the validity of the results. We demonstrated significant changes in structural and functional MRI over 6 years. Our findings present a potential neuroimaging-based biomarker to detect cognitive impairment and prevent risks of neurodegenerative diseases in healthy old adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean de Dieu Uwisengeyimana
- Hefei National Lab for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Centers for Biomedical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, Anhui, China
- Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, College of Science and Technology, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda
| | - Benedictor Alexander Nguchu
- Hefei National Lab for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Centers for Biomedical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, Anhui, China
| | - Yaming Wang
- Hefei National Lab for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Centers for Biomedical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, Anhui, China
| | - Du Zhang
- Hefei National Lab for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Centers for Biomedical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, Anhui, China
| | - Yanpeng Liu
- Hefei National Lab for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Centers for Biomedical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, Anhui, China
| | - Zhoufan Jiang
- Hefei National Lab for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Centers for Biomedical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, Anhui, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Wang
- Hefei National Lab for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Centers for Biomedical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, Anhui, China.
| | - Bensheng Qiu
- Hefei National Lab for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Centers for Biomedical Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, Anhui, China.
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O'Brien MW, Kimmerly DS, Mekari S. Greater habitual moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is associated with better executive function and higher prefrontal oxygenation in older adults. GeroScience 2021; 43:2707-2718. [PMID: 34081258 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-021-00391-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
International physical activity guidelines recommend that older adults accumulate 150 min/week of moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). It is unclear whether meeting this recommendation is associated with better higher-order cognitive functions and if so, what are the neurophysiological mechanisms responsible for such a relationship. We tested the hypothesis that meeting MVPA guidelines is associated with better executive function in older adults, and explored if greater increases in prefrontal cortex oxygenation are implicated. Older adults who did (active, n = 19; 251 ± 79 min/week) or who did not (inactive, n = 16; 89 ± 33 min/week) achieve activity guidelines were compared. Executive function was determined via a computerized Stroop task while changes in left prefrontal cortex oxygenation (ΔO2Hb) were measured with functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Aerobic fitness ([Formula: see text] 2peak) was determined using a graded, maximal cycle ergometry test. MVPA and sedentary time were objectively assessed over 5 days. Both groups had similar (both, P > 0.11) levels of aerobic fitness (24.9 ± 8.9 vs. 20.9 ± 5.6 ml/kg/min) and sedentary time (529 ± 60 vs. 571 ± 90 min/day). The active group had faster reaction times (1193 ± 230 vs. 1377 ± 239 ms, P < 0.001) and greater increases in prefrontal cortex ΔO2Hb (9.4 ± 5.6 a.u vs. 5.8 ± 3.4 a.u, P = 0.04) during the most executively demanding Stroop condition than the Inactive group. Weekly MVPA was negatively correlated to executive function reaction times (r = - 0.37, P = 0.03) but positively correlated to the ΔO2Hb responses (r = 0.39. P = 0.02) during the executive task. In older adults, meeting MVPA guidelines is associated with better executive function and larger increases in cerebral oxygenation among older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myles W O'Brien
- Division of Kinesiology, School of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Derek S Kimmerly
- Division of Kinesiology, School of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Said Mekari
- School of Kinesiology, Acadia University, 550 Main Street, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, B4P 2R6, Canada.
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Mekari S, Neyedli HF, Fraser S, O’Brien MW, Martins R, Evans K, Earle M, Aucoin R, Chiekwe J, Hollohan Q, Kimmerly DS, Dupuy O. High-Intensity Interval Training Improves Cognitive Flexibility in Older Adults. Brain Sci 2020; 10:brainsci10110796. [PMID: 33137993 PMCID: PMC7693870 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10110796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Regular aerobic exercise is associated with better executive function in older adults. It is unclear if high-intensity-interval-training (HIIT) elicits moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) or resistance training (RT). We hypothesized that HIIT would augment executive function more than MICT and RT. Methods: Sixty-nine older adults (age: 68 ± 7 years) performed six weeks (three days/week) of HIIT (2 × 20 min bouts alternating between 15 s intervals at 100% of peak power output (PPO) and passive recovery (0% PPO); n = 24), MICT (34 min at 60% PPO; n = 19), or whole-body RT (eight exercise superior improvements in executive function of older adults than moderate-intensity-continuous-training, 2 × 10 repetitions; n = 26). Cardiorespiratory fitness (i.e., V˙O2max) and executive function were assessed before and after each intervention via a progressive maximal cycle ergometer protocol and the Stroop Task, respectively. Results: The V˙O2max findings revealed a significant group by time interaction (p = 0.001) in which all groups improved following training, but HIIT and MICT improved more than RT. From pre- to post-training, no interaction in the naming condition of the Stroop Task was observed (p > 0.10). However, interaction from pre- to post-training by group was observed, and only the HIIT group exhibited a faster reaction time (from 1250 ± 50 to 1100 ± 50 ms; p < 0.001) in switching (cognitive flexibility). Conclusion: Despite similar improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, HIIT, but not MICT nor RT, enhanced cognitive flexibility in older adults. Exercise programs should consider using HIIT protocols in an effort to combat cognitive decline in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Said Mekari
- School of Kinesiology, Acadia University, 550. Main Street, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada; (R.M.); (K.E.); (M.E.); (R.A.); (J.C.); (Q.H.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(902)-585-1566
| | - Heather F. Neyedli
- Division of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health, School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 1T8, Canada; (H.F.N.); (M.W.O.); (D.S.K.)
| | - Sarah Fraser
- Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 74K, Canada;
| | - Myles W. O’Brien
- Division of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health, School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 1T8, Canada; (H.F.N.); (M.W.O.); (D.S.K.)
| | - Ricardo Martins
- School of Kinesiology, Acadia University, 550. Main Street, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada; (R.M.); (K.E.); (M.E.); (R.A.); (J.C.); (Q.H.)
| | - Kailey Evans
- School of Kinesiology, Acadia University, 550. Main Street, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada; (R.M.); (K.E.); (M.E.); (R.A.); (J.C.); (Q.H.)
| | - Meghan Earle
- School of Kinesiology, Acadia University, 550. Main Street, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada; (R.M.); (K.E.); (M.E.); (R.A.); (J.C.); (Q.H.)
| | - Rachelle Aucoin
- School of Kinesiology, Acadia University, 550. Main Street, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada; (R.M.); (K.E.); (M.E.); (R.A.); (J.C.); (Q.H.)
| | - Joy Chiekwe
- School of Kinesiology, Acadia University, 550. Main Street, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada; (R.M.); (K.E.); (M.E.); (R.A.); (J.C.); (Q.H.)
| | - Quinn Hollohan
- School of Kinesiology, Acadia University, 550. Main Street, Wolfville, NS B4P 2R6, Canada; (R.M.); (K.E.); (M.E.); (R.A.); (J.C.); (Q.H.)
| | - Derek S. Kimmerly
- Division of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health, School of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 1T8, Canada; (H.F.N.); (M.W.O.); (D.S.K.)
| | - Olivier Dupuy
- Laboratory MOVE (EA 6314), Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Poitiers, 86000 Poitiers, France;
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