LIFETIME PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IS ASSOCIATED WITH CSF AMYLOID IN COGNITIVELY ASYMPTOMATIC APOE ɛ4+ ADULTS

Abstract

Research has shown that the association between leisure-time physical activity and amyloid deposition in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) did not differ between APOE ɛ4+ and ɛ4- adults (Head et al., 2012). However, additional domains of physical activity have not been investigated, nor has a lifetime measure of physical activity been used. The purpose of this study was to determine if a lifetime of occupation, transportation, household and leisure-time physical activity was associated with amyloid deposition in cognitively asymptomatic APOE ɛ4+ adults. Cognitively asymptomatic APOE ɛ4+ (N=18, age 51–72 years, mean = 62.7, SD = 6.6, 67% female) and APOE ɛ4- adults (N=35, age 48–72 years, mean = 62.7, SD = 6.4, 77% female) from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer's Prevention and the Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center completed the Lifetime Total Physical Activity Questionnaire during face-to-face interviews which estimated the average metabolic equivalent hours per week per year of occupation, transportation, household, leisure-time and total (all domains combined) physical activity. Participants also underwent lumbar puncture to acquire CSF which was assayed for amyloid (Aβ42), total tau (T-Tau), and phosphorylated tau (P-Tau181) using commercially available ELISA methods (INNOTEST assays, Fujiurebio, Ghent, Belgium). Correlations were performed between the multiple domains of physical activity and CSF biomarkers, controlling for age and sex. A lifetime of more total physical activity was associated with higher CSF Aβ42 concentration (r = .615, p = .011) in cognitively asymptomatic APOE ɛ4+ but not APOE ɛ4- adults (see figure). None of the individual physical activity domains were associated with any of the CSF biomarkers in APOE ɛ4+ or APOE ɛ4- adults.