Acute Aerobic Walking Exercise Induces Changes in Thalamic Resting-State Connectivity in Persons with Multiple...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Exercise Physiology
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Understanding acute exercise effects on brain networks is crucial for developing interventions for cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis (MS).
• Aerobic walking exercise shows promise for improving cognitive function in MS patients.
• This study investigates the immediate impact of different walking exercise types on brain connectivity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the acute effects of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic treadmill walking (TM) versus overground walking (OG) on thalamic resting-state functional connectivity (RSFC).
• To examine how these exercise modalities influence brain regions critical for cognition in individuals with MS.

Main Methods:

• A within-subjects, repeated-measures design was employed with 24 participants with MS.
• Participants completed 20-minute sessions of TM and OG exercise in a randomized order.
• Thalamic RSFC was measured using 3T MRI immediately before and after each exercise condition.

Main Results:

• Both TM and OG exercise induced significant changes in thalamic RSFC across 19 brain regions.
• Overground walking (OG) showed a greater increase in RSFC between the thalamus and higher-order cognitive regions compared to treadmill walking (TM).
• Treadmill walking (TM) demonstrated a greater increase in RSFC between the thalamus and visuo-perceptual processing regions compared to OG.

Conclusions:

• Single bouts of aerobic walking exercise acutely alter thalamic functional connectivity in individuals with MS.
• The specific changes in connectivity differ based on the type of walking exercise, influenced by multisensory input (OG vs. TM).
• These findings offer mechanistic insights into how aerobic walking exercise may enhance cognitive function in MS.