Abstract
The precision health initiative is leading the discovery of novel biomarkers as important indicators of biological processes or responses to behavior, such as physical activity. Neural biomarkers identified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) hold promise to inform future research, and ultimately, for transfer to the clinical setting to optimize health outcomes. This study investigated resting-state and functional brain biomarkers between midlife women who were maintaining physical activity in accordance with the current national guidelines and previously acquired age-matched sedentary controls. Approval was obtained from the Human Subjects Committee. Participants included nondiabetic, healthy weight to overweight (body mass index 19–29.9 kg/m2) women (n = 12) aged 40–64 years. Control group data were used from participants enrolled in our previous functional MRI study and baseline resting-state MRI data from a subset of sedentary (<500 kcal of physical activity per week) midlife women who were enrolled in a 9-month exercise intervention conducted in our imaging center. Differential activation of the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) and greater connectivity with the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) was identified between physically active women and sedentary controls. After correcting for multiple comparisons, these differences in biomarkers of physical activity maintenance did not reach statistical significance. Preliminary evidence in this small sample suggests that neural biomarkers of physical activity maintenance involve activations in the brain region associated with areas involved in implementing goal-directed behavior. Specifically, activation of the IFG and connectivity with the dlPFC is identified as a neural biomarker to explain and predict long-term physical activity maintenance for healthy aging. Future studies should evaluate these biomarker links with relevant clinical correlations.
Highlights
The Precision Health Initiative emphasizing individualized healthcare is leading the discovery of novel biomarkers
Results resting-state MRI (rsMRI) results No significant whole-brain differences were found between groups comparing connectivity between the right or left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and the rest of the brain
A trend suggested greater connectivity between the left dlPFC and inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) (x, y, z = À39, 15, À12; 104 mm3) in the physical activity group compared with the inactive control group (Fig. 2). functional MRI (fMRI) results Goal-directed learning
Summary
The Precision Health Initiative emphasizing individualized healthcare is leading the discovery of novel biomarkers. Measured biologic, physiologic, and ‘‘omic’’ (e.g., genomic, metabolomic, proteomic) biomarkers are the underpinnings of health conditions and their treatments.[1] Noninvasive neural biomarkers identified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are gaining recognition as important indicators of biological processes or responses to behavior,[2] such as physical activity. These biomarkers provide information for identifying individuals at risk for disease and allow resources to be focused on those who will benefit most from intensive intervention or treatment.
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