The association between aerobic fitness and executive function is mediated by prefrontal cortex volume

被引:241
作者
Weinstein, Andrea M. [1 ,2 ]
Voss, Michelle W. [3 ,4 ]
Prakash, Ruchika Shaurya [5 ]
Chaddock, Laura [3 ,4 ]
Szabo, Amanda [6 ]
White, Siobhan M. [6 ]
Wojcicki, Thomas R. [6 ]
Mailey, Emily [6 ]
McAuley, Edward [6 ]
Kramer, Arthur F. [3 ,4 ]
Erickson, Kirk I. [1 ,2 ]
机构
[1] Univ Pittsburgh, Dept Psychol, Pittsburgh, PA 15260 USA
[2] Univ Pittsburgh, Ctr Neural Basis Cognit, Pittsburgh, PA 15260 USA
[3] Univ Illinois, Dept Psychol, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
[4] Univ Illinois, Beckman Inst Adv Sci & Technol, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
[5] Ohio State Univ, Dept Psychol, Columbus, OH 43210 USA
[6] Univ Illinois, Dept Kinesiol & Community Hlth, Urbana, IL 61801 USA
基金
美国国家卫生研究院;
关键词
Cardiorespiratory fitness; Executive function; Voxel-based morphometry; Cortical volume; Prefrontal cortex; Mediation; CARDIORESPIRATORY FITNESS; PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY; OLDER-ADULTS; SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY; ATTENTIONAL CONTROL; COGNITIVE FUNCTION; BRAIN CHANGES; RANDOM-FIELD; EXERCISE; DEMENTIA;
D O I
10.1016/j.bbi.2011.11.008
中图分类号
R392 [医学免疫学]; Q939.91 [免疫学];
学科分类号
100102 ;
摘要
Aging is marked by a decline in cognitive function, which is often preceded by losses in gray matter volume. Fortunately, higher cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) levels are associated with an attenuation of age-related losses in gray matter volume and a reduced risk for cognitive impairment. Despite these links, we have only a rudimentary understanding of whether fitness-related increases in gray matter volume lead to elevated cognitive function. In this cross-sectional study, we examined whether the association between higher aerobic fitness levels and elevated executive function was mediated by greater gray matter volume in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). One hundred and forty-two older adults (mean age = 66.6 - years) completed structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, CRF assessments, and performed Stroop and spatial working memory (SPWM) tasks. Gray matter volume was assessed using an optimized voxel-based morphometry approach. Consistent with our predictions, higher fitness levels were associated with: (a) better performance on both the Stroop and SPWM tasks, and (b) greater gray matter volume in several regions, including the dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC). Volume of the right inferior frontal gyrus and precentral gyrus mediated the relationship between CRF and Stroop interference while a non-over-lapping set of regions bilaterally in the DLPFC mediated the association between CRF and SPWM accuracy. These results suggest that specific regions of the DLPFC differentially relate to inhibition and spatial working memory. Thus, fitness may influence cognitive function by reducing brain atrophy in targeted areas in healthy older adults. (c) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
引用
收藏
页码:811 / 819
页数:9
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