Abstract
Age-related degenerations in brain structure are associated with balance disturbances and cognitive impairment. However, neuroplasticity is known to be preserved throughout lifespan and physical training studies with seniors could reveal volume increases in the hippocampus (HC), a region crucial for memory consolidation, learning and navigation in space, which were related to improvements in aerobic fitness. Moreover, a positive correlation between left HC volume and balance performance was observed. Dancing seems a promising intervention for both improving balance and brain structure in the elderly. It combines aerobic fitness, sensorimotor skills and cognitive demands while at the same time the risk of injuries is low. Hence, the present investigation compared the effects of an 18-month dancing intervention and traditional health fitness training on volumes of hippocampal subfields and balance abilities. Before and after intervention, balance was evaluated using the Sensory Organization Test and HC volumes were derived from magnetic resonance images (3T, MP-RAGE). Fourteen members of the dance (67.21 ± 3.78 years, seven females), and 12 members of the fitness group (68.67 ± 2.57 years, five females) completed the whole study. Both groups revealed hippocampal volume increases mainly in the left HC (CA1, CA2, subiculum). The dancers showed additional increases in the left dentate gyrus and the right subiculum. Moreover, only the dancers achieved a significant increase in the balance composite score. Hence, dancing constitutes a promising candidate in counteracting the age-related decline in physical and mental abilities.
Highlights
The human hippocampus (HC) is affected by pathological aging such as in Alzheimer’s disease and by the normal aging process resulting in deficits in memory, learning, and spatial navigation at old age (Driscoll et al, 2003; Barnes et al, 2009)
This investigation, comprising hippocampal volume alterations and changes in balance abilities, is part of a large prospective longitudinal study which compares the effects of dancing versus aerobic training on brain structure and function, mediating neuroplasticity factors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), as well as cognitive and motor performances in healthy elderly seniors
In the step we investigated balance data and we looked for correlations between improvements in balance and hippocampal volume
Summary
The human hippocampus (HC) is affected by pathological aging such as in Alzheimer’s disease and by the normal aging process resulting in deficits in memory, learning, and spatial navigation at old age (Driscoll et al, 2003; Barnes et al, 2009). Research has focused on the effects of aerobic fitness and training on volumes and perfusion of the HC. Results reveal that higher cardiorespiratory fitness levels (VO2 max) are associated with larger hippocampal volumes in late adulthood, and that larger hippocampal volumes may, in turn, contribute to better memory function (Erickson et al, 2011; Szabo et al, 2011; Bugg et al, 2012; Maass et al, 2015). Whereas Erickson et al (2011) reported a positive correlation between levels of serum BDNF, hippocampal volume and cardiorespiratory fitness during 1 year of aerobic training, neither Ruscheweyh et al (2011) nor Maass et al (2016) found fitness-related BDNF changes after 6 or 3 months of training, respectively. The role of cardio-respiratory fitness in modulating hippocampal gray matter volume is still under debate
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