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The effects of physical activity, education, and body mass index on the aging brain.
Tuesday,2012-11-06 12:19 America/Los_Angeles — eenright
| Title | The effects of physical activity, education, and body mass index on the aging brain. |
| Publication Type | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication | 2011 |
| Authors | Ho, AJ, Raji, CA, Becker, JT, Lopez, OL, Kuller, LH, Hua, X, Dinov, ID, Stein, JL, Rosano, C, Toga, AW, Thompson, PM |
| Journal | Hum Brain Mapp |
| Volume | 32 |
| Issue | 9 |
| Pagination | 1371-82 |
| Date Published | 2011 Sep |
| ISSN | 1097-0193 |
| Keywords | Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Aging, Analysis of Variance, Body Mass Index, Brain, Brain Mapping, Educational Status, Female, Humans, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Motor Activity, Neuropsychological Tests, Statistics as Topic |
| Abstract | <p>Normal human aging is accompanied by progressive brain tissue loss and cognitive decline; however, several factors are thought to influence brain aging. We applied tensor-based morphometry to high-resolution brain MRI scans to determine whether educational level or physical activity was associated with brain tissue volumes in the elderly, particularly in regions susceptible to age-related atrophy. We mapped the 3D profile of brain volume differences in 226 healthy elderly subjects (130F/96M; 77.9 ± 3.6 SD years) from the Cardiovascular Health Study-Cognition Study. Statistical maps revealed the 3D profile of brain regions whose volumes were associated with educational level and physical activity (based on leisure-time energy expenditure). After controlling for age, sex, and physical activity, higher educational levels were associated with ~2-3% greater tissue volumes, on average, in the temporal lobe gray matter. After controlling for age, sex, and education, greater physical activity was associated with ~2-2.5% greater average tissue volumes in the white matter of the corona radiata extending into the parietal-occipital junction. Body mass index (BMI) was highly correlated with both education and physical activity, so we examined BMI as a contributing factor by including physical activity, education, and BMI in the same model; only BMI effects remained significant. This is one of the largest MRI studies of factors influencing structural brain aging, and BMI may be a key factor explaining the observed relationship between education, physical activity, and brain structure. Independent contributions to brain structure could not be teased apart as all these factors were highly correlated with one another.</p> |
| DOI | 10.1002/hbm.21113 |
| Alternate Journal | Hum Brain Mapp |
| PubMed ID | 20715081 |
| PubMed Central ID | PMC3184838 |
| Grant List | R01 EB007813 / EB / NIBIB NIH HHS / United States AG15928 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 AG015928-02 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 AG015928 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R56 AG020098 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States P50 AG005133-23 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States U54-RR021813 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States R01 HD050735-05 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States R01 EB008281-14 / EB / NIBIB NIH HHS / United States R01 HD050735 / HD / NICHD NIH HHS / United States AG05133 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 EB008432 / EB / NIBIB NIH HHS / United States R01 AG020098-09 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States P50 AG005133 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States U54 RR021813 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States R01 AG020098 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 EB008432-04 / EB / NIBIB NIH HHS / United States R01 EB008281 / EB / NIBIB NIH HHS / United States U54 RR021813-05S5 / RR / NCRR NIH HHS / United States AG20098 / AG / NIA NIH HHS / United States R01 EB007813-04 / EB / NIBIB NIH HHS / United States |