Physical activity predicts gray matter volume in late adulthood: the Cardiovascular Health Study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Physical activity (PA) has been hypothesized to spare gray matter volume in late adulthood, but longitudinal data testing an association has been lacking. Here we tested whether PA would be associated with greater gray matter volume after a 9-year follow-up, a threshold could be identified for the amount of walking necessary to spare gray matter volume, and greater gray matter volume associated with PA would be associated with a reduced risk for cognitive impairment 13 years after the PA evaluation.

Methods

In 299 adults (mean age 78 years) from the Cardiovascular Health Cognition Study, we examined the association between gray matter volume, PA, and cognitive impairment. Physical activity was quantified as the number of blocks walked over 1 week. High-resolution

SUBMITTER: Erickson KI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3039208 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature