Exercise-Related Physical Activity Relates to Brain Volumes in 10,125 Individuals

Abstract

Background: The potential neuroprotective effects of regular physical activity on brain structure are unclear, despite links between activity and reduced dementia risk. Objective: To investigate the relationships between regular moderate to vigorous physical activity and quantified brain volumes on magnetic resonance neuroimaging. Methods: A total of 10,125 healthy participants underwent whole-body MRI scans, with brain sequences including isotropic MP-RAGE. Three deep learning models analyzed axial, sagittal, and coronal views from the scans. Moderate to vigorous physical activity, defined by activities increasing respiration and pulse rate for at least 10 continuous minutes, was modeled with brain volumes via partial correlations. Analyses adjusted for age, sex, and total intracranial volume, and a 5% Benjamini-Hochberg False Discovery Rate addressed multiple comparisons. Results: Participant average age was 52.98±13.04 years (range 18–97) and 52.3% were biologically male. Of these, 7,606 (75.1%) reported engaging in moderate or vigorous physical activity approximately 4.05±3.43 days per week. Those with vigorous activity were slightly younger (p < 0.00001), and fewer women compared to men engaged in such activities (p = 3.76e-15). Adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, and multiple comparisons, increased days of moderate to vigorous activity correlated with larger normalized brain volumes in multiple regions including: total gray matter (Partial R = 0.05, p = 1.22e-7), white matter (Partial R = 0.06, p = 9.34e-11), hippocampus (Partial R = 0.05, p = 5.96e-7), and frontal, parietal, and occipital lobes (Partial R = 0.04, p≤1.06e-5). Conclusions: Exercise-related physical activity is associated with increased brain volumes, indicating potential neuroprotective effects.

Physical activity patterns and cognitive function in elderly women: a cross-sectional study from NHANES 2011–2014

“…This enhancement in cognitive function can be attributed to several interrelated physiological and neurobiological mechanisms. MVPA significantly increases cerebral blood flow, essential for delivering nutrients and oxygen to the brain and facilitating the clearance of neurotoxic waste products, potentially preventing neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's (Nguyen et al, 2023 ; Raji et al, 2024 ). Additionally, MVPA stimulates the release of neurotrophic factors like brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which supports neuron survival and growth, and enhances synaptic plasticity, crucial for learning and memory (Mata et al, 2010 ; Sanders et al, 2019 ).…”

Exploring the association of physical activity on cognitive function in older adults from observational and genetic insights: a combined NHANES and Mendelian randomization study

“…Physical activity (PA) emerges as a promising non-pharmacological intervention with the potential to significantly enhance cognitive health ( Raji et al, 2024 ). Beyond general health promotion, PA has been identified as a key factor in combating cognitive decline ( Palta et al, 2019 ; Saint-Maurice et al, 2020 ; Raji et al, 2024 ).…”

“…Physical activity (PA) emerges as a promising non-pharmacological intervention with the potential to significantly enhance cognitive health ( Raji et al, 2024 ). Beyond general health promotion, PA has been identified as a key factor in combating cognitive decline ( Palta et al, 2019 ; Saint-Maurice et al, 2020 ; Raji et al, 2024 ). The extant research underscores that regular PA not only improves mental well-being but also acts as a preventive measure against the deterioration of CF ( Li et al, 2023 ; Wang H, et al, 2024 ).…”