A systematic review of MRI studies examining the relationship between physical fitness and activity and the white matter of the ageing brain - PubMed (original) (raw)
Review
A systematic review of MRI studies examining the relationship between physical fitness and activity and the white matter of the ageing brain
Claire E Sexton et al. Neuroimage. 2016.
Abstract
Higher levels of physical fitness or activity (PFA) have been shown to have beneficial effects on cognitive function and grey matter volumes in older adults. However, the relationship between PFA and the brain's white matter (WM) is not yet well established. Here, we aim to provide a comprehensive and systematic review of magnetic resonance imaging studies examining the effects of PFA on the WM of the ageing brain. Twenty-nine studies were included in the review: eleven examined WM volume, fourteen WM lesions, and nine WM microstructure. While many studies found that higher levels of PFA were associated with greater WM volumes, reduced volume or severity of WM lesions, or improved measures of WM microstructure, a number of negative findings have also been published. Meta-analyses of global measures of WM volume and WM lesion volume yielded significant, but small, effect sizes. Overall, we found evidence for cautious support of links between PFA and WM structure, and highlighted key areas for future research including the extent to which the relationship between PFA and WM structure is anatomically specific, the influence of possible confounding factors, and the relationship between PFA, WM and cognition.
Keywords: Ageing; Fitness; Magnetic resonance imaging; Physical activity; Review; White matter.
Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Figures
Fig. 1
Effect sizes (Cohen's d) for global WM volume: higher PFA is associated with greater WM volumes.
Fig. 2
Funnel plot of standard errors plotted against effect sizes for studies in Fig. 2, in order to identify publication bias.
Fig. 3
Effect sizes (Cohen's d) for total WM lesion volume: higher PFA associated with reduced WM lesion volume.
Fig. 4
Funnel plot of standard errors plotted against effect sizes for studies in Fig. 4, in order to identify publication bias.
Similar articles
- Effect of aerobic exercise on white matter microstructure in the aging brain.
Clark CM, Guadagni V, Mazerolle EL, Hill M, Hogan DB, Pike GB, Poulin MJ. Clark CM, et al. Behav Brain Res. 2019 Nov 5;373:112042. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2019.112042. Epub 2019 Jul 4. Behav Brain Res. 2019. PMID: 31279793 - Effects of sustained cognitive activity on white matter microstructure and cognitive outcomes in healthy middle-aged adults: A systematic review.
McPhee GM, Downey LA, Stough C. McPhee GM, et al. Ageing Res Rev. 2019 May;51:35-47. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2019.02.004. Epub 2019 Feb 22. Ageing Res Rev. 2019. PMID: 30802543 - White matter microstructure mediates the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and spatial working memory in older adults.
Oberlin LE, Verstynen TD, Burzynska AZ, Voss MW, Prakash RS, Chaddock-Heyman L, Wong C, Fanning J, Awick E, Gothe N, Phillips SM, Mailey E, Ehlers D, Olson E, Wojcicki T, McAuley E, Kramer AF, Erickson KI. Oberlin LE, et al. Neuroimage. 2016 May 1;131:91-101. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.09.053. Epub 2015 Oct 9. Neuroimage. 2016. PMID: 26439513 Free PMC article. - Disconnected aging: cerebral white matter integrity and age-related differences in cognition.
Bennett IJ, Madden DJ. Bennett IJ, et al. Neuroscience. 2014 Sep 12;276:187-205. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.11.026. Epub 2013 Nov 23. Neuroscience. 2014. PMID: 24280637 Free PMC article. Review. - The neural correlates of discrete gait characteristics in ageing: A structured review.
Wilson J, Allcock L, Mc Ardle R, Taylor JP, Rochester L. Wilson J, et al. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2019 May;100:344-369. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2018.12.017. Epub 2018 Dec 13. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2019. PMID: 30552912 Free PMC article. Review.
Cited by
- Cardiorespiratory fitness diminishes the effects of age on white matter hyperintensity volume.
Johnson NF, Bahrani AA, Powell DK, Jicha GA, Gold BT. Johnson NF, et al. PLoS One. 2020 Aug 31;15(8):e0236986. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236986. eCollection 2020. PLoS One. 2020. PMID: 32866198 Free PMC article. - The Brain in Motion II Study: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of an aerobic exercise intervention for older adults at increased risk of dementia.
Krüger RL, Clark CM, Dyck AM, Anderson TJ, Clement F, Hanly PJ, Hanson HM, Hill MD, Hogan DB, Holroyd-Leduc J, Longman RS, McDonough M, Pike GB, Rawling JM, Sajobi T, Poulin MJ. Krüger RL, et al. Trials. 2021 Jun 14;22(1):394. doi: 10.1186/s13063-021-05336-z. Trials. 2021. PMID: 34127029 Free PMC article. - A Scoping Review on Movement, Neurobiology and Functional Deficits in Dyslexia: Suggestions for a Three-Fold Integrated Perspective.
Pellegrino M, Ben-Soussan TD, Paoletti P. Pellegrino M, et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Feb 14;20(4):3315. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20043315. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023. PMID: 36834011 Free PMC article. Review. - Longitudinal associations of absolute versus relative moderate-to-vigorous physical activity with brain microstructural decline in aging.
Tian Q, Schrack JA, Landman BA, Resnick SM, Ferrucci L. Tian Q, et al. Neurobiol Aging. 2022 Aug;116:25-31. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2022.04.007. Epub 2022 Apr 14. Neurobiol Aging. 2022. PMID: 35544996 Free PMC article. - The Relation of Having Experienced a Fall in the Past to Lower Cognitive Functioning in Old Age Is Mediated via Less Physical Activity Engagement as Cognitive Reserve Contributor.
Ihle A, Gouveia ÉR, Gouveia BR, Marques A, Marconcin P, Nascimento MM, Haas M, Jurema J, Tinôco MA, Kliegel M. Ihle A, et al. Biology (Basel). 2022 Dec 1;11(12):1754. doi: 10.3390/biology11121754. Biology (Basel). 2022. PMID: 36552264 Free PMC article.
References
- Begg C.B., Mazumdar M. Operating characteristics of a rank correlation test for publication bias. Biometrics. 1994;50:1088–1101. - PubMed
- Benedict C., Brooks S.J., Kullberg J., Nordenskjöld R., Burgos J., Le Grevès M., Kilander L., Larsson E.-M., Johansson L., Ahlström H., Lind L., Schiöth H.B. Association between physical activity and brain health in older adults. Neurobiol. Aging. 2013;34:83–90. - PubMed
Publication types
MeSH terms
Grants and funding
- 090955/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom
- G1001354/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom
- MR/K013351/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom
- PB-PG-0110-20250/DH_/Department of Health/United Kingdom
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
Medical