Effects of 6 months of multicomponent exercise on DTI parameters of MCI in the AD continuum

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThe cognitive changes in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) can be associated to the neurodegeneration of Alzheimer´s pathology, such as white matter atrophy. Increasing evidence demonstrates that physical activity is an important modifiable factor not only for cardiovascular fitness, but also for brain health. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze possible effects of 6 months of multicomponent exercise (MEP) on structural connectivity of MCI in the AD continuum.Method19 MCI subjects were diagnosed using the core criteria of the NIA/AA for MCI and altered CSF amyloid. All of them underwent MRI on a 3.0T Philips Achieva scanner. They were divided into MEP group (3x/week for 6 months) and control group (CG, were stimulated to continue with their normal routine). Aerobic fitness was assessed by graded maximal exercise testing on a motor‐driven treadmill. For WM analysis, we used the Tract‐based‐spatial‐statistics (TBSS) method (http://fsl.fmrib.ox.ac.uk/fsl/fslwiki/TBSS) to compare the diffusion parameters maps (fractional anisotropy FA, medial diffusivity MD, radial diffusivity RD, axial diffusivity AxD) between times (p‐value<0.05).ResultRepeated measures Anova indicated significant differences between groups and within groups (p=0.008 and p=0,011, respectively), while MEP showed higher values of VO2max (from 24.0 (4.3) to 27.3 (4.4) ml/kg/min‐1), CG reduced (21.0 (3.8) to 19.7 (2.3) ml/kg/min‐1) after 6 months. TBSS demonstrated an increase in FA and AxD values for MEP while FA and AxD values decreased in CG, in the following areas: corpus callosum, forceps major, corticospinal tract, inferior fronto‐occipital fasciculus, inferior and superior longitudinal fasciculus and cingulum. In the same areas mentioned above, MD and RD values decreased for MEP group and increased for CG after the intervention period.ConclusionWe found a positive influence of multicomponent exercise under supervision on aerobic fitness and in the DTI parameters of the participants. Six months of MEP seems to increase the white matter integrity of MCI due to AD.