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Physical activity, inflammation, and volume of the aging brain.

TitlePhysical activity, inflammation, and volume of the aging brain.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2014
AuthorsBraskie, MN, Boyle, CP, Rajagopalan, P, Gutman, BA, Toga, AW, Raji, CA, Tracy, RP, Kuller, LH, Becker, JT, Lopez, OL, Thompson, PM
JournalNeuroscience
Volume273
Pagination199-209
Date Published2014 Jul 25
ISSN1873-7544
KeywordsAged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Alzheimer Disease, Apolipoproteins E, Brain, Female, Humans, Inflammation, Longitudinal Studies, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Motor Activity, Neuroimmunomodulation, Neuropsychological Tests, Organ Size, Parietal Lobe, Surveys and Questionnaires, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Abstract<p>Physical activity influences inflammation, and both affect brain structure and Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk. We hypothesized that older adults with greater reported physical activity intensity and lower serum levels of the inflammatory marker tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) would have larger regional brain volumes on subsequent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. In 43 cognitively intact older adults (79.3±4.8 years) and 39 patients with AD (81.9±5.1 years at the time of MRI) participating in the Cardiovascular Health Study, we examined year-1 reported physical activity intensity, year-5 blood serum TNFα measures, and year-9 volumetric brain MRI scans. We examined how prior physical activity intensity and TNFα related to subsequent total and regional brain volumes. Physical activity intensity was measured using the modified Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activities questionnaire at year 1 of the study, when all subjects included here were cognitively intact. Stability of measures was established for exercise intensity over 9 years and TNFα over 3 years in a subset of subjects who had these measurements at multiple time points. When considered together, more intense physical activity intensity and lower serum TNFα were both associated with greater total brain volume on follow-up MRI scans. TNFα, but not physical activity, was associated with regional volumes of the inferior parietal lobule, a region previously associated with inflammation in AD patients. Physical activity and TNFα may independently influence brain structure in older adults.</p>
DOI10.1016/j.neuroscience.2014.05.005
Alternate JournalNeuroscience
PubMed ID24836855
PubMed Central IDPMC4076831
Grant ListP41 EB015922 / EB / NIBIB NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-80007 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
P50 AG005142 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85080 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG015928 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
U01 HL080295 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG040060 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01 HC015103 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
AG020098 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
R56 AG020098 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
AG015928 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01HC55222 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01-HC-85086 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85086 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85081 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85079 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85086 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
P50 AG005133 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85082 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
R01 AG020098 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85082 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC75150 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC75150 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85083 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85083 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85079 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
AG005133 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
AG040060 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States
N01 HC045133 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85080 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01 HC035129 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01HC85081 / HL / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States
N01 HC55222 / HC / NHLBI NIH HHS / United States