White matter microstructure mediates the association between cardiorespiratory fitness and cognitive performance in older adults.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Age-related cognitive decline occurs, in part, due to diminishing white matter integrity. Higher cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is associated with better cognitive performance, but the neurobiological mechanisms underlying this association remain uncertain. Previous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have suggested that CRF-related changes in white matter microstructure might prevent or slow age-related cognitive decline, but have been limited by small sample sizes and methodological limitations. Specifically, most prior studies used tensor-based diffusion-weighted MRI metrics, which are insensitive to complex white matter architectures, including crossing fibers.

Methods

Here, we leveraged a novel analysis framework capable of resolving individual fiber

SUBMITTER: Tinney EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12287842 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul-Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature