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Structural brain differences between ultra-endurance athletes and sedentary persons
T Paruk1, L Rauch1, M Jankiewicz2
1Department of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
Sports Medicine and Health Science
|July 5, 2022
Summary
Ultra-endurance athletes show increased overall brain volume, including grey and white matter. However, they exhibit smaller regional grey matter in specific brain areas compared to sedentary individuals.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sports Medicine
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Ultra-endurance events involve extreme levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA).
- Moderate MVPA is linked to increased brain volume, but the effects of extreme MVPA remain unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare brain structure between ultra-endurance athletes and sedentary individuals.
- To investigate the impact of extreme physical activity on brain volume using magnetic resonance imaging.
Main Methods:
- Whole brain volumetric analyses and voxel-based morphometry were performed.
- Participants included 12 ultra-endurance athletes (average 1078.75 min MVPA/week) and 9 sedentary individuals (average 18.0 min MVPA/week).
Main Results:
- Ultra-endurance athletes demonstrated significantly increased grey matter (p<0.0001), white matter (p=0.031), and total brain matter volume (p<0.0001).
- Regional analyses revealed smaller grey matter volumes in the right primary sensory/motor cortex, inferior/middle frontal gyrus, and left thalamus in athletes.
Conclusions:
- Extreme physical activity, as seen in ultra-endurance athletes, is associated with overall brain volume expansion.
- Despite increased total volume, specific brain regions show reduced grey matter volume, warranting further investigation.
