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Dai YF, Zhong XK, Gao XY, Huang C, Leng WW, Chen HZ, Jiang CH. Aerobic fitness as a moderator of acute aerobic exercise effects on executive function. Cereb Cortex 2024; 34:bhae141. [PMID: 38602740 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhae141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the moderating role of aerobic fitness on the effect of acute exercise on improving executive function from both behavioral and cerebral aspects. Thirty-four young individuals with motor skills were divided into high- and low-fitness groups based on their maximal oxygen uptake. Both groups completed 30 min of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on a power bike. Executive function tests (Flanker, N-back, More-odd-shifting) were performed before and after exercise and functional near-infrared spectroscopy was used to monitor prefrontal cerebral blood flow changes during the tasks. The results indicated significant differences between the two groups regarding executive function. Participants with lower aerobic fitness performed better than their higher fitness counterparts in inhibitory control and working memory, but not in cognitive flexibility. This finding suggests that the aerobic fitness may moderate the extent of cognitive benefits gained from acute aerobic exercise. Furthermore, the neuroimaging data indicated negative activation in the frontopolar area and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in response to three complex tasks. These findings underscore the importance of considering individual aerobic fitness when assessing the cognitive benefits of exercise and could have significant implications for tailoring fitness programs to enhance cognitive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Fu Dai
- School of Kinesiology and Health, Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, No. 11, North 3rd Ring West Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Xiao-Ke Zhong
- College of Physical Education and Sport Science, Fujian Normal University, No. 18, Wulongjiang Middle Avenue, Shangjie Town, Minhou County, Fuzhou, Fujian, 350108, China
| | - Xiao-Yan Gao
- School of Kinesiology and Health, Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, No. 11, North 3rd Ring West Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Chen Huang
- School of Kinesiology and Health, Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, No. 11, North 3rd Ring West Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Wen-Wu Leng
- Xinyu No. 4 Middle School, No. 328, North Lake West Road, Chengbei Street, Yushui District, Xinyu, Jiangxi, 338099, China
| | - Han-Zhe Chen
- Tianjin No. 2 High School, No. 109, Kunwei Road, Hebei District, Tianjin, 300143, China
| | - Chang-Hao Jiang
- The Center of Neuroscience and Sports, Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, No. 11, North 3rd Ring West Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
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Festa F, Medori S, Macrì M. Move Your Body, Boost Your Brain: The Positive Impact of Physical Activity on Cognition across All Age Groups. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1765. [PMID: 37371860 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11061765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
While the physical improvements from exercise have been well documented over the years, the impact of physical activity on mental health has recently become an object of interest. Physical exercise improves cognition, particularly attention, memory, and executive functions. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects have yet to be fully understood. Consequently, we conducted a narrative literature review concerning the association between acute and chronic physical activity and cognition to provide an overview of exercise-induced benefits during the lifetime of a person. Most previous papers mainly reported exercise-related greater expression of neurotransmitter and neurotrophic factors. Recently, structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging techniques allowed for the detection of increased grey matter volumes for specific brain regions and substantial modifications in the default mode, frontoparietal, and dorsal attention networks following exercise. Here, we highlighted that physical activity induced significant changes in functional brain activation and cognitive performance in every age group and could counteract psychological disorders and neural decline. No particular age group gained better benefits from exercise, and a specific exercise type could generate better cognitive improvements for a selected target subject. Further research should develop appropriate intervention programs concerning age and comorbidity to achieve the most significant cognitive outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felice Festa
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine & Dentistry, University "G. D'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Silvia Medori
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine & Dentistry, University "G. D'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
| | - Monica Macrì
- Department of Innovative Technologies in Medicine & Dentistry, University "G. D'Annunzio" of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy
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ISHIHARA TORU, MIYAZAKI ATSUSHI, TANAKA HIROKI, MATSUDA TETSUYA. Association of Cardiovascular Risk Markers and Fitness with Task-Related Neural Activity during Animacy Perception. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2022; 54:1738-1750. [PMID: 35666157 PMCID: PMC9473717 DOI: 10.1249/mss.0000000000002963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Numerous studies have demonstrated the association between cardiovascular risk markers and fitness, and broad aspects of cognition; however, the possible association of cardiovascular risk markers and fitness with social cognition, which plays a significant role in the development and maintenance of social relationships, has largely been ignored. Herein, we investigated the relationship of cardiovascular risk markers and fitness with task-related neural activity during animacy perception. METHODS We analyzed data from the Human Connectome Project derived from 1027 adults age 22-37 yr. Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) was conducted to evaluate the association between participants' body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, submaximal endurance, gait speed, hand dexterity, and muscular strength with task-related neural activity during animacy perception. RESULTS We observed a single significant CCA mode. Body mass index and blood pressure demonstrated negative cross-loadings with task-related neural activity in the temporoparietal, superior and anterior temporal, posterior cingulate, and inferior frontal regions, whereas submaximal endurance, hand dexterity, and muscular strength demonstrated positive cross-loadings. The observed CCA variates did not seem highly heritable, as the absolute differences in CCA variates in monozygotic twins, dizygotic twins, and nontwin siblings were not statistically different. Furthermore, the cardiovascular risk markers and fitness CCA variates were positively associated with animacy perception and emotion recognition accuracy, which was mediated by the task-related neural activity. CONCLUSIONS The present findings can provide new insights into the role of markers for cardiovascular health and fitness, specifically their association with social cognition and the underlying neural basis. The intervention for cardiovascular risk and fitness could be a potentially cost-effective method of targeting social cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- TORU ISHIHARA
- Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University, Kobe, JAPAN
| | | | - HIROKI TANAKA
- Tamagawa University Brain Science Institute, Tokyo, JAPAN
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, JAPAN
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Eisenstein T, Giladi N, Hendler T, Havakuk O, Lerner Y. Neural Synchrony During Naturalistic Information Processing Is Associated With Aerobically Active Lifestyle and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Cognitively Intact Older Adults. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:906099. [PMID: 35874153 PMCID: PMC9300901 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.906099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The functional neural mechanisms underlying the cognitive benefits of aerobic exercise have been a subject of ongoing research in recent years. However, while most neuroimaging studies to date which examined functional neural correlates of aerobic exercise have used simple stimuli in highly controlled and artificial experimental conditions, our everyday life experiences require a much more complex and dynamic neurocognitive processing. Therefore, we have used a naturalistic complex information processing fMRI paradigm of story comprehension to investigate the role of an aerobically active lifestyle in the processing of real-life cognitive-demanding situations. By employing the inter-subject correlation (inter-SC) approach, we have identified differences in reliable stimulus-induced neural responses between groups of aerobically active (n = 27) and non-active (n = 22) cognitively intact older adults (age 65–80). Since cardiorespiratory fitness has previously been suggested to play a key role in the neuroprotective potential of aerobic exercise, we have investigated its dose-response relationship with regional inter-subject neural responses. We found that aerobically active lifestyle and cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with more synchronized inter-subject neural responses during story comprehension in higher order cognitive and linguistic brain regions in the prefrontal and temporo-parietal cortices. In addition, while higher regional inter-SC values were associated with higher performance on a post-listening memory task, this was not translated to a significant between-group difference in task performance. We, therefore, suggest that the modulatory potential of aerobic exercise and cardiorespiratory fitness on cognitive processing may extend beyond simple and highly controlled stimuli to situations in which the brain faces continuous real-life complex information. Additional studies incorporating other aspects of real-life situations such as naturalistic visual stimuli, everyday life decision making, and motor responses in these situations are desired to further validate the observed relationship between aerobic exercise, cardiorespiratory fitness, and complex naturalistic information processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamir Eisenstein
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sagol Brain Institute, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
- *Correspondence: Tamir Eisenstein Yulia Lerner
| | - Nir Giladi
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Department of Neurology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Talma Hendler
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sagol Brain Institute, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ofer Havakuk
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Department of Cardiology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Yulia Lerner
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sagol Brain Institute, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- *Correspondence: Tamir Eisenstein Yulia Lerner
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Balance Expertise Is Associated with Superior Spatial Perspective-Taking Skills. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11111401. [PMID: 34827399 PMCID: PMC8615958 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11111401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Balance training interventions over several months have been shown to improve spatial cognitive functions and to induce structural plasticity in brain regions associated with visual-vestibular self-motion processing. In the present cross-sectional study, we tested whether long-term balance practice is associated with better spatial cognition. To this end, spatial perspective-taking abilities were compared between balance experts (n = 40) practicing sports such as gymnastics, acrobatics or slacklining for at least four hours a week for the last two years, endurance athletes (n = 38) and sedentary healthy individuals (n = 58). The balance group showed better performance in a dynamic balance task compared to both the endurance group and the sedentary group. Furthermore, the balance group outperformed the sedentary group in a spatial perspective-taking task. A regression analysis across all participants revealed a positive association between individual balance performance and spatial perspective-taking abilities. Groups did not differ in executive functions, and individual balance performance did not correlate with executive functions, suggesting a specific association between balance skills and spatial cognition. The results are in line with theories of embodied cognition, assuming that sensorimotor experience shapes cognitive functions.
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An Overview on Cognitive Function Enhancement through Physical Exercises. Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11101289. [PMID: 34679354 PMCID: PMC8534220 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11101289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This review is extensively focused on the enhancement of cognitive functions while performing physical exercises categorized into cardiovascular exercises, resistance training, martial arts, racquet sports, dancing and mind-body exercises. Imaging modalities, viz. functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) and electroencephalography (EEG), have been included in this review. This review indicates that differences are present in cognitive functioning while changing the type of physical activity performed. This study concludes that employing fNIRS helps overcome certain limitations of fMRI. Further, the effects of physical activity on a diverse variety of the population, from active children to the old people, are discussed.
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Ishihara T, Miyazaki A, Tanaka H, Fujii T, Takahashi M, Nishina K, Kanari K, Takagishi H, Matsuda T. Childhood exercise predicts response inhibition in later life via changes in brain connectivity and structure. Neuroimage 2021; 237:118196. [PMID: 34029739 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Participation in exercise during early life (i.e., childhood through adolescence) enhances response inhibition; however, it is unclear whether participation in exercise during early life positively predicts response inhibition in later life. This historical cohort study was designed to clarify whether participation in exercise (e.g., structured sports participation) during early life predicts response inhibition in adulthood and if so, to reveal the brain connectivity and cortical structures contributing to this association. We analyzed data derived from 214 participants (women = 104, men = 110; age: 26‒69 years). Results indicated that participation in exercise during childhood (before entering junior high school; ≤ 12 years old) significantly predicted better response inhibition. No such association was found if exercise participation took place in early adolescence or later (junior high school or high school; ≥ 12 years old). The positive association of exercise participation during childhood with response inhibition was moderated by decreased structural and functional connectivity in the frontoparietal (FPN), cingulo-opercular (CON), and default mode networks (DMN), and increased inter-hemispheric structural networks. Greater cortical thickness and lower levels of dendritic arborization and density in the FPN, CON, and DMN also moderated this positive association. Our results suggest that participation in exercise during childhood positively predicts response inhibition later in life and that this association can be moderated by changes in neuronal circuitry, such as increased cortical thickness and efficiency, and strengthened inter-hemispheric connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toru Ishihara
- Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University, 3-11 Tsurukabuto, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan; Tamagawa University Brain Science Institute, 6-1-1 Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194-8610, Japan
| | - Atsushi Miyazaki
- Tamagawa University Brain Science Institute, 6-1-1 Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194-8610, Japan
| | - Hiroki Tanaka
- Tamagawa University Brain Science Institute, 6-1-1 Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194-8610, Japan; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 5-3-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan
| | - Takayuki Fujii
- Tamagawa University Brain Science Institute, 6-1-1 Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194-8610, Japan
| | - Muneyoshi Takahashi
- Tamagawa University Brain Science Institute, 6-1-1 Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194-8610, Japan
| | - Kuniyuki Nishina
- Tamagawa University Brain Science Institute, 6-1-1 Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194-8610, Japan
| | - Kei Kanari
- Tamagawa University Brain Science Institute, 6-1-1 Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194-8610, Japan
| | - Haruto Takagishi
- Tamagawa University Brain Science Institute, 6-1-1 Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194-8610, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Matsuda
- Tamagawa University Brain Science Institute, 6-1-1 Tamagawagakuen, Machida, Tokyo 194-8610, Japan.
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Yogev-Seligmann G, Eisenstein T, Ash E, Giladi N, Sharon H, Nachman S, Bregman N, Kodesh E, Hendler T, Lerner Y. Neurocognitive Plasticity Is Associated with Cardiorespiratory Fitness Following Physical Exercise in Older Adults with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment. J Alzheimers Dis 2021; 81:91-112. [PMID: 33720893 DOI: 10.3233/jad-201429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aerobic training has been shown to promote structural and functional neurocognitive plasticity in cognitively intact older adults. However, little is known about the neuroplastic potential of aerobic exercise in individuals at risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia. OBJECTIVE We aimed to explore the effect of aerobic exercise intervention and cardiorespiratory fitness improvement on brain and cognitive functions in older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). METHODS 27 participants with aMCI were randomized to either aerobic training (n = 13) or balance and toning (BAT) control group (n = 14) for a 16-week intervention. Pre- and post-assessments included functional MRI experiments of brain activation during associative memory encoding and neural synchronization during complex information processing, cognitive evaluation using neuropsychological tests, and cardiorespiratory fitness assessment. RESULTS The aerobic group demonstrated increased frontal activity during memory encoding and increased neural synchronization in higher-order cognitive regions such as the frontal cortex and temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) following the intervention. In contrast, the BAT control group demonstrated decreased brain activity during memory encoding, primarily in occipital, temporal, and parietal areas. Increases in cardiorespiratory fitness were associated with increases in brain activationin both the left inferior frontal and precentral gyri. Furthermore, changes in cardiorespiratory fitness were also correlated with changes in performance on several neuropsychological tests. CONCLUSION Aerobic exercise training may result in functional plasticity of high-order cognitive areas, especially, frontal regions, among older adults at risk of AD and dementia. Furthermore, cardiorespiratory fitness may be an important mediating factor of the observed changes in neurocognitive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galit Yogev-Seligmann
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Sagol Brain Institute, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Tamir Eisenstein
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Sagol Brain Institute, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Elissa Ash
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Department of Neurology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Nir Giladi
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Department of Neurology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Haggai Sharon
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Sagol Brain Institute, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Pain Management & Neuromodulation Centre, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.,Institute of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Shikma Nachman
- Sagol Brain Institute, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Noa Bregman
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Department of Neurology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Einat Kodesh
- Department of Physical Therapy Faculty of Social Welfare & Health Sciences, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Talma Hendler
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Sagol Brain Institute, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,School of Psychological Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Yulia Lerner
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Sagol Brain Institute, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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Di Tella S, Isernia S, Pagliari C, Jonsdottir J, Castiglioni C, Gindri P, Gramigna C, Canobbio S, Salza M, Molteni F, Baglio F. A Multidimensional Virtual Reality Neurorehabilitation Approach to Improve Functional Memory: Who Is the Ideal Candidate? Front Neurol 2021; 11:618330. [PMID: 33519699 PMCID: PMC7840659 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.618330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Aims: We aimed to identify the significant predictors of ecological memory amelioration after the Human Empowerment Aging and Disability (HEAD) rehabilitation program, a multidimensional treatment for chronic neurological diseases. Materials and Methods: Ninety-three patients with Parkinson disease (n = 29), multiple sclerosis (n = 26), and stroke (n = 38) underwent a multidimensional rehabilitation. We focused on changes after treatment on ecological memory (outcome measure) evaluated by Rivermead Behavioral Memory Test, Third Edition (RBMT-3). Minimal clinically important difference (MCID) after treatment were calculated for RBMT-3. The change score on RBMT-3 was categorized in positive effect, stabilization, or no effect of the treatment. Random forest classification identified who significantly benefited from treatment against who did not in terms of ecological memory functioning. Accordingly, logistic regression models were created to identify the best predictors of the treatment effect. A predicted probability value was derived, and the profile of the ideal candidate of HEAD protocol was shown by combining different ranks of significant predictors in a 3 × 3 matrix for each pair of predictors. Results: A significant number of cases reported positive effect of the treatment on ecological memory, with an amelioration over the MCID or a stabilization. The random forest analysis highlighted a discrete accuracy of prediction (>0.60) for all the variables considered at baseline for identifying participants who significantly benefited and who did not from the treatment. Significant logistic regression model (Wald method) showed a predictive role of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA; p = 0.007), 2-Minute Walk Test (2MWT; p = 0.038), and RBMT-3 (p < 0.001) at baseline on HEAD treatment effect. Finally, we observed a high probability of success in people with higher residual cognitive functioning (MoCA; odds ratio = 1.306) or functional mobility (2MWT; odds ratio = 1.013). Discussion: The HEAD program is a rehabilitation with effects on multiple domains, including ecological memory. Residual level of cognitive and/or motor functioning is a significant predictor of the treatment success. These findings confirm the intrinsic relationship subsisting between motor and cognitive functions and suggest the beneficial effects of physical activity on cognitive functions and vice versa.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara Isernia
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi ONLUS, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Patrizia Gindri
- Fondazione Opera San Camillo Presidio Sanitario San Camillo, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Samuela Canobbio
- Villa Beretta Rehabilitation Center, Ospedale Valduce, Como, Italy
| | - Marco Salza
- Fondazione Opera San Camillo Presidio Sanitario San Camillo, Turin, Italy
| | - Franco Molteni
- Villa Beretta Rehabilitation Center, Ospedale Valduce, Como, Italy
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Lehmann N, Villringer A, Taubert M. Intrinsic Connectivity Changes Mediate the Beneficial Effect of Cardiovascular Exercise on Sustained Visual Attention. Cereb Cortex Commun 2020; 1:tgaa075. [PMID: 34296135 PMCID: PMC8152900 DOI: 10.1093/texcom/tgaa075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular exercise (CE) is an evidence-based healthy lifestyle strategy. Yet, little is known about its effects on brain and cognition in young adults. Furthermore, evidence supporting a causal path linking CE to human cognitive performance via neuroplasticity is currently lacking. To understand the brain networks that mediate the CE-cognition relationship, we conducted a longitudinal, controlled trial with healthy human participants to compare the effects of a 2-week CE intervention against a non-CE control group on cognitive performance. Concomitantly, we used structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate the neural mechanisms mediating between CE and cognition. On the behavioral level, we found that CE improved sustained attention, but not processing speed or short-term memory. Using graph theoretical measures and statistical mediation analysis, we found that a localized increase in eigenvector centrality in the left middle frontal gyrus, probably reflecting changes within an attention-related network, conveyed the effect of CE on cognition. Finally, we found CE-induced changes in white matter microstructure that correlated with intrinsic connectivity changes (intermodal correlation). These results suggest that CE is a promising intervention strategy to improve sustained attention via brain plasticity in young, healthy adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nico Lehmann
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig 04103, Germany
- Department of Sport Science, Faculty of Human Sciences, Institute III, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg 39104, Germany
| | - Arno Villringer
- Department of Neurology, Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig 04103, Germany
- Mind and Brain Institute, Charité and Humboldt University, Berlin 10117, Germany
| | - Marco Taubert
- Department of Sport Science, Faculty of Human Sciences, Institute III, Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg 39104, Germany
- Center for Behavioral and Brain Science (CBBS), Otto von Guericke University, Magdeburg 39106, Germany
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