Physical fitness, hippocampal functional connectivity and academic performance in children with overweight/obesity: The ActiveBrains project

Esteban‐Cornejo, Irene; Stillman, Chelsea M.; Rodriguez‐Ayllon, María; Kramer, Arthur F.; Hillman, Charles H.; Catena, Andrés; Erickson, Kirk I.; Ortega, Francisco B.

doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2020.10.006

Cited by 33 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…It is therefore reasonable to speculate that the role of motor fitness on synaptogenesis may spread to the posterior hippocampus. These findings suggest a favorable albeit differential effects of aerobic versus motor-coordination on functional connectivity between frontal regions and the hippocampus (Esteban-Cornejo et al, 2021). In contrast, Esteban-Cornejo and colleagues did not find a relation between increased muscular strength and hippocampal functional connectivity at a resting state (Table 1).…”

Section: Brain Functionmentioning

confidence: 87%

The Role of Chronic Physical Activity in Alleviating the Detrimental Relationship of Childhood Obesity on Brain and Cognition

et al. 2021

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Childhood obesity and its negative relation with children’s brain health has become a growing health concern. Over the last decade, literature has indicated that physical activity attenuates cognitive impairment associated with obesity and excess adiposity in children. However, there is no comprehensive review that considers the extent to which these factors affect different domains of cognition. This narrative review comprehensively summarizes behavioral, neuroimaging, and neuroelectric findings associated with chronic physical activity and fitness on brain and cognition in childhood obesity. Based on the literature reviewed, increased adiposity has a demonstrated relationship with neurocognitive health via mechanisms triggered by central inflammation and insulin resistance, with the most pronounced decrements observed for cognitive domains that are prefrontal- and hippocampal-dependent. Fortunately, physical activity, especially interventions enhancing aerobic fitness and motor coordination, have demonstrated efficacy for attenuating the negative effects of obesity across different subdomains of structural and functional brain imaging, cognition, and multiple academic outcomes in children with overweight or obesity. Such mitigating effects may be accounted for by attenuated central inflammation, improved insulin sensitivity, and increased expression of neurotrophic factors. Lastly, individual differences appear to play a role in this relationship, as the manipulation of physical activity characteristics, the employment of a wide array of cognitive and academic measures, the inclusion of different adiposity measures that are sensitive to neurocognitive function, and the utilization of an inter-disciplinary approach have been found to influence the relationship between physical activity and excess adiposity on brain and cognition.

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Section: Brain Functionmentioning

confidence: 87%

The Role of Chronic Physical Activity in Alleviating the Detrimental Relationship of Childhood Obesity on Brain and Cognition

et al. 2021

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“…MF has been less studied, being its influence on brain functioning related to a direct neuromuscular mechanism boosting the strength and power demand, which seems to be dependent on the muscular contraction type (Yao et al, 2016 ; Solis-Urra et al, 2021 ). However, the MF influence in a whole-brain volumetric approach in children seems to not be independent of CRF (Esteban-Cornejo et al, 2017 , 2021 ). In contrast, SAF involved speed of movements, agility, coordination, and a mix between power, strength and aerobic capacity which elicit high cognitive demands (Best, 2010 ; van der Fels et al, 2015 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mediation Role of Physical Fitness and Its Components on the Association Between Distribution-Related Fat Indicators and Adolescents’ Cognitive Performance: Exploring the Influence of School Vulnerability. The Cogni-Action Project

Hernández-Jaña

Sanchez-Martinez

Solis‐Urra

et al. 2021

Front. Behav. Neurosci.

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Background: Physical fitness and fatness converge simultaneously modulating cognitive skills, which in turn, are associated with children and adolescents’ socioeconomic background. However, both fitness components and fat mass localization are crucial for understanding its implication at the cognitive level.Objective: This study aimed to determine the mediation role of a global physical fitness score and its components on the association between different fatness indicators related to fat distribution and adolescents’ cognitive performance, and simultaneously explore the influence of school vulnerability.Methods: In this study, 1,196 Chilean adolescents participated (aged 10–14; 50.7% boys). Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), muscular fitness (MF), and speed-agility fitness (SAF) were evaluated, and a global fitness score (GFS) was computed adjusted for age and sex (CRF + MF + SAF z-scores). Body mass index z-score (BMIz), sum-of-4-skinfolds (4SKF), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were used as non-specific, peripheral, and central adiposity indicators, respectively. A global cognitive score was computed based on eight tasks, and the school vulnerability index (SVI) was registered as high, mid or low. A total of 24 mediation analyses were performed according to two models, adjusted for sex and peak high velocity (Model 1), and adding the school vulnerability index (SVI) in Model 2. The significance level was set at p < 0.05.Results: The fitness mediation role was different concerning the fatness indicators related to fat distribution analyzed. Even after controlling for SVI, CRF (22%), and SAF (29%), but not MF, mediated the association between BMIz and cognitive performance. Likewise, CRF, SAF and GFS, but not MF, mediated the association between WHtR and cognitive performance (38.6%, 31.9%, and 54.8%, respectively). No mediations were observed for 4SKF.Conclusion: The negative association between fatness and cognitive performance is mitigated by the level of adolescents’ physical fitness, mainly CRF and SAF. This mediation role seems to be more consistent with a central fat indicator even in the presence of school vulnerability. Strategies promoting physical fitness would reduce the cognitive gap in children and adolescents related to obesity and school vulnerability.

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“…Furthermore, rsfMRI studies examining FC in the elderly have shown that PA produces changes in the way the hippocampus co-activates with large-scale networks (e.g., Weng et al, 2017). Specifically, studies consistently find higher hippocampal connectivity to various default mode network areas such as anterior and posterior midline areas, as well as with motor areas (Burdette et al, 2010;Voss et al, 2010aVoss et al, ,b, 2016Prakash et al, 2011;Boraxbekk et al, 2016;Tao et al, 2016;Weng et al, 2017;Ikuta et al, 2019;Esteban-Cornejo et al, 2021). For example, Voss et al (2010b) studied the effects of 3-timesper-week 1-year-long interventions for both aerobic and nonaerobic exercise in groups of elderly participants.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Daily-Life Physical Activity of Healthy Young Adults Associates With Function and Structure of the Hippocampus

Seoane

Ezama

Janssen

2022

Front. Hum. Neurosci.

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Previous research on Physical Activity (PA) has been highly valuable in elucidating how PA affects the structure and function of the hippocampus in elderly populations that take part in structured interventions. However, how PA affects the hippocampus in younger populations that perform PA during daily-life activities remains poorly understood. In addition, this research has not examined the impact of PA on the internal structure of the hippocampus. Here, we performed a cross-sectional exploration of the way structural and functional aspects of the hippocampus are associated with habitual PA performed during work, leisure time, and sports in the daily lives of healthy young adults (n = 30; 14 female; mean age = 23.9 y.o.; SD = 7.8 y.o.). We assessed PA in these three different contexts through a validated questionnaire. The results show that PA performed during work time correlated with higher subicular volumes. In addition, we found that PA changed functional connectivity (FC) between a location in the middle/posterior hippocampus and regions of the default mode network, and between a location in the anterior hippocampus and regions of the somatomotor network. No statistical effects of PA performed during leisure time and sports were found. The results generalize the impact of PA on younger populations and show how PA performed in daily-life situations correlates with the precise internal structure and functional connectivity of the hippocampus.

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Physical fitness, hippocampal functional connectivity and academic performance in children with overweight/obesity: The ActiveBrains project

Cited by 33 publications

References 61 publications

The Role of Chronic Physical Activity in Alleviating the Detrimental Relationship of Childhood Obesity on Brain and Cognition

The Role of Chronic Physical Activity in Alleviating the Detrimental Relationship of Childhood Obesity on Brain and Cognition

Mediation Role of Physical Fitness and Its Components on the Association Between Distribution-Related Fat Indicators and Adolescents’ Cognitive Performance: Exploring the Influence of School Vulnerability. The Cogni-Action Project

Daily-Life Physical Activity of Healthy Young Adults Associates With Function and Structure of the Hippocampus

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