Physical activity moderates the association between executive function and functional connectivity in older adults.
Marissa A Gogniat1, Talia L Robinson1, Kharine R Jean1
1University of Georgia, Department of Psychology, Athens, GA, USA.
Aging Brain
|March 13, 2023
Summary
Physical activity is linked to better brain connectivity in older adults. Higher activity levels correlate with stronger default mode network and dorsal attention network connections, especially in those with high executive function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Aging is associated with changes in brain functional connectivity.
- Physical activity is increasingly recognized as a factor influencing cognitive health in older adults.
- Understanding the interplay between physical activity, executive function, and brain networks is crucial for promoting healthy aging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how physical activity affects the relationship between executive function and functional connectivity in older adults.
- To examine the influence of physical activity on specific brain networks (Default Mode Network and Dorsal Attention Network) and graph theory metrics.
- To explore the moderating role of physical activity in the association between executive function and brain network connectivity.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 47 community-dwelling older adults (average age 73).
- Conducted neuropsychological testing, physical activity assessments, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Employed seed-to-voxel moderation analyses and graph theory analyses to examine brain network functional connectivity (FC).
Main Results:
- Physical activity showed a significant positive association with Default Mode Network (DMN) FC and Dorsal Attention Network (DAN) FC.
- An interaction between executive function and physical activity significantly influenced DMN FC.
- This interaction indicated that the positive association between physical activity and DMN FC was significant only in older adults with high executive function.
Conclusions:
- Greater physical activity in older adults is associated with enhanced DMN and DAN functional connectivity.
- Physical activity may be particularly beneficial for maintaining brain network integrity in cognitively healthy older adults with high executive function.
- These findings underscore the importance of physical activity for supporting cognitive health and brain function in aging populations.
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