Association between physical exercise, executive function, and cerebellar cortex: A cross-sectional study among the...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Gerontology
• Public Health

Background:

• Physical exercise is recognized for its brain health benefits, yet data specific to older Chinese populations is limited.
• Understanding the role of physical activity in cognitive decline among this demographic is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between physical exercise and cognitive impairment in older Chinese adults.
• To explore potential mechanisms through which physical exercise mitigates cognitive decline.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 192 dementia patients, 610 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 2,218 healthy older adults.
• Data collected via questionnaires on demographics, health, and physical activity; cognitive function assessed using MMSE and MoCA; executive function evaluated with Wechsler block diagram.
• Brain MRI scans were performed on 164 healthy participants, focusing on the hippocampus, gray matter, and cerebellar cortex.

Main Results:

• Physical exercise was significantly associated with a reduced likelihood of both MCI (OR=0.689) and dementia (OR=0.501), independent of confounding factors.
• Physical activity showed predictive value for MCI and dementia (AUCs 0.551 and 0.628, respectively).
• Exercise correlated with cerebellar cortex thickness and improved executive function scores, with cerebellar cortex thickness partially mediating this relationship.

Conclusions:

• Physical exercise appears to be a protective factor against mild cognitive impairment and dementia in the Chinese elderly.
• An association exists between physical exercise, executive function, and cerebellar cortex structure, suggesting a potential neuroprotective pathway.