Dose-dependent association of accelerometer-measured physical activity and sedentary time with brain perfusion in aging

Zvinka Z Zlatar; Chelsea C Hays; Zoe Mestre; Laura M Campbell; M J Meloy; Katherine J Bangen; Thomas T Liu; Jacqueline Kerr; Christina E Wierenga

doi:10.1016/j.exger.2019.110679

Dose-dependent association of accelerometer-measured physical activity and sedentary time with brain perfusion in aging

Exp Gerontol. 2019 Oct 1:125:110679. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2019.110679. Epub 2019 Aug 2.

Authors

Zvinka Z Zlatar¹, Chelsea C Hays², Zoe Mestre², Laura M Campbell², M J Meloy³, Katherine J Bangen⁴, Thomas T Liu⁵, Jacqueline Kerr⁶, Christina E Wierenga⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA 92093. USA. Electronic address: zzlatar@ucsd.edu.
² San Diego State University, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA 92093, USA.
³ Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA 92093. USA.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA 92093. USA; VA San Diego Healthcare System, 3350 La Jolla Village Dr., San Diego 92161, USA.
⁵ Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. La Jolla, CA 92093. USA; Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093. USA; Deaprtment of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093. USA.
⁶ Department of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093. USA.

Abstract

Introduction: Age-related decreases in cerebral blood flow (CBF) may lead to cognitive decline, while physical activity (PA) can maintain CBF and cognition in aging. The intensity of PA needed to affect CBF in aging, and the independent effects of sedentary time on CBF are currently unknown. Moreover, research conducted in free-living environments with objective measures of PA (e.g., accelerometry) is lacking.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used accelerometry to objectively measure sedentary time, all light PA [AllLightPA], moderate-to-vigorous PA [MVPA], and total activity counts [TAC] in 52 cognitively healthy older adults. Robust linear regressions investigated the association of CBF (using arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging) in frontal and medial temporal regions, with each PA intensity and sedentary time.

Results: Greater sedentary time was significantly associated with lower CBF in lateral and medial frontal regions after adjusting for MVPA, while higher AllLightPA (adjusted for MVPA), MVPA (adjusted for AllLightPA), and TAC were associated with greater CBF in lateral and medial frontal regions.

Discussion: Lighter activities, as well as MVPA, are beneficial to CBF in brain regions typically affected by the aging process and malleable to exercise interventions (i.e., the frontal lobes), whereas sedentary time is an independent risk factor for neurovascular dysregulation in normal aging.

Keywords: Accelerometry; Cerebral blood flow; Cognition; Dose-response; Physical activity; Sedentary time.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Accelerometry
Aged
Aging / physiology*
Brain / blood supply
Brain / diagnostic imaging
Cerebrovascular Circulation*
Cognition / physiology*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Exercise / physiology*
Female
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Sedentary Behavior*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding