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Objective physical activity and Alzheimer's disease burden in the population-based Rotterdam Study
Phuong Thuy Nguyen Ho1, Meike W Vernooij1,2, Trudy Voortman2
1Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Alzheimer'S & Dementia : the Journal of the Alzheimer'S Association
|September 18, 2025
Summary
Physical activity did not correlate with Alzheimer's disease biomarkers in cognitively unimpaired adults. This suggests physical activity may influence dementia risk through different mechanisms or earlier life stages.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gerontology
- Public Health
Background:
- Physical activity is associated with reduced dementia risk.
- The direct link between physical activity and Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology is not well understood.
- Early AD biomarkers in cognitively unimpaired individuals offer a window to study preclinical AD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between objectively measured physical activity and early Alzheimer's disease biomarkers.
- To determine if physical activity levels correlate with plasma and brain amyloid-beta (Aβ) burden.
- To explore the relationship between time spent sedentary versus active and AD biomarkers.
Main Methods:
- Utilized accelerometer data to measure physical activity in 242 participants from the Rotterdam Study.
- Assessed plasma biomarkers including beta-amyloid (Aβ)42/Aβ40 ratio and p-tau217.
- Measured cortical Aβ burden using 18F-florbetaben positron emission tomography (PET) approximately 7 years after activity assessment.
Main Results:
- No significant association was found between physical activity levels and plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 or p-tau217 levels.
- Physical activity showed no correlation with cortical Aβ burden measured by PET 7 years later.
- Shifting 30 minutes from sedentary time to physical activity did not alter AD biomarker levels.
Conclusions:
- Current physical activity levels in older adults are not directly associated with early Alzheimer's disease pathological markers.
- The protective effect of physical activity on dementia risk may operate through pathways other than direct modulation of Aβ and tau pathology.
- Further research is needed to understand the role of physical activity in AD prevention, potentially focusing on different life stages or other biological mechanisms.
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