Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity is Related With Retinal Neuronal and Axonal Integrity in Persons With Multiple...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Ophthalmology
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease affecting the central nervous system.
• Axonal and neuronal integrity are crucial for neurological function and can be impacted in MS.
• Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is hypothesized to benefit neurological health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between device-measured MVPA and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and total macular volume (TMV) in individuals with and without MS.
• To determine if MVPA influences neurodegenerative markers in MS patients.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving adults with MS (N=41) and healthy controls (HC, N=79).
• Retinal morphology assessed using optical coherence tomography (OCT) to measure RNFL thickness and TMV.
• MVPA objectively measured over 7 days using accelerometers.

Main Results:

• Individuals with MS exhibited significantly lower MVPA, RNFL thickness, and TMV compared to HCs.
• MVPA showed a positive correlation with both RNFL thickness (r=0.38) and TMV (r=0.49).
• MVPA explained 8% of the variance in TMV and 3% in RNFL thickness, partially mediating group differences.

Conclusions:

• MVPA is positively associated with retinal markers of axonal and neuronal integrity in individuals with MS.
• Increased MVPA may represent a potential therapeutic target for managing neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis.
• Objective measurement of MVPA provides valuable insights into neuroprotection strategies for MS.