Skip to main content
Advertisement
  • Neurology.org
  • Journals
    • Neurology
    • Clinical Practice
    • Education
    • Genetics
    • Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation
  • Online Sections
    • Neurology Video Journal Club
    • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)
    • Innovations in Care Delivery
    • Practice Buzz
    • Practice Current
    • Residents & Fellows
    • Without Borders
  • Collections
    • COVID-19
    • Disputes & Debates
    • Health Disparities
    • Infographics
    • Neurology Future Forecasting Series
    • Null Hypothesis
    • Patient Pages
    • Topics A-Z
    • Translations
  • Podcast
  • CME
  • About
    • About the Journals
    • Contact Us
    • Editorial Board
  • Authors
    • Submit New Manuscript
    • Submit Revised Manuscript
    • Author Center

Advanced Search

Main menu

  • Neurology.org
  • Journals
    • Neurology
    • Clinical Practice
    • Education
    • Genetics
    • Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation
  • Online Sections
    • Neurology Video Journal Club
    • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI)
    • Innovations in Care Delivery
    • Practice Buzz
    • Practice Current
    • Residents & Fellows
    • Without Borders
  • Collections
    • COVID-19
    • Disputes & Debates
    • Health Disparities
    • Infographics
    • Neurology Future Forecasting Series
    • Null Hypothesis
    • Patient Pages
    • Topics A-Z
    • Translations
  • Podcast
  • CME
  • About
    • About the Journals
    • Contact Us
    • Editorial Board
  • Authors
    • Submit New Manuscript
    • Submit Revised Manuscript
    • Author Center
  • Home
  • Latest Articles
  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Neurology Video Journal Club
  • Residents & Fellows

User menu

  • Subscribe
  • My Alerts
  • Log in

Search

  • Advanced search
Neurology
Home
The most widely read and highly cited peer-reviewed neurology journal
  • Subscribe
  • My Alerts
  • Log in
Site Logo
  • Home
  • Latest Articles
  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Neurology Video Journal Club
  • Residents & Fellows

Share

February 16, 2021; 96 (7) Article

Prospective Analysis of Leisure-Time Physical Activity in Midlife and Beyond and Brain Damage on MRI in Older Adults

Priya Palta, A. Richey Sharrett, View ORCID ProfileKelley Pettee Gabriel, Rebecca F. Gottesman, Aaron R. Folsom, Melinda C. Power, Kelly R. Evenson, Clifford R. Jack, David S. Knopman, Thomas H. Mosley, Gerardo Heiss
First published January 6, 2021, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000011375
Priya Palta
From the Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine (P.P.), Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY; Department of Epidemiology (A.R.S., R.F.G.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health (K.P.G.), The University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Neurology (R.F.G.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health (A.R.F.), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Department of Epidemiology (M.C.P.), Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC; Department of Epidemiology (K.R.E., G.H.), Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Departments of Radiology (C.R.J.) and Neurology (D.S.K.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and The MIND Center (T.H.M.), University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
A. Richey Sharrett
From the Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine (P.P.), Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY; Department of Epidemiology (A.R.S., R.F.G.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health (K.P.G.), The University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Neurology (R.F.G.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health (A.R.F.), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Department of Epidemiology (M.C.P.), Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC; Department of Epidemiology (K.R.E., G.H.), Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Departments of Radiology (C.R.J.) and Neurology (D.S.K.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and The MIND Center (T.H.M.), University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Kelley Pettee Gabriel
From the Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine (P.P.), Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY; Department of Epidemiology (A.R.S., R.F.G.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health (K.P.G.), The University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Neurology (R.F.G.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health (A.R.F.), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Department of Epidemiology (M.C.P.), Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC; Department of Epidemiology (K.R.E., G.H.), Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Departments of Radiology (C.R.J.) and Neurology (D.S.K.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and The MIND Center (T.H.M.), University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Kelley Pettee Gabriel
Rebecca F. Gottesman
From the Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine (P.P.), Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY; Department of Epidemiology (A.R.S., R.F.G.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health (K.P.G.), The University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Neurology (R.F.G.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health (A.R.F.), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Department of Epidemiology (M.C.P.), Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC; Department of Epidemiology (K.R.E., G.H.), Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Departments of Radiology (C.R.J.) and Neurology (D.S.K.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and The MIND Center (T.H.M.), University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Aaron R. Folsom
From the Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine (P.P.), Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY; Department of Epidemiology (A.R.S., R.F.G.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health (K.P.G.), The University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Neurology (R.F.G.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health (A.R.F.), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Department of Epidemiology (M.C.P.), Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC; Department of Epidemiology (K.R.E., G.H.), Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Departments of Radiology (C.R.J.) and Neurology (D.S.K.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and The MIND Center (T.H.M.), University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Melinda C. Power
From the Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine (P.P.), Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY; Department of Epidemiology (A.R.S., R.F.G.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health (K.P.G.), The University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Neurology (R.F.G.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health (A.R.F.), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Department of Epidemiology (M.C.P.), Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC; Department of Epidemiology (K.R.E., G.H.), Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Departments of Radiology (C.R.J.) and Neurology (D.S.K.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and The MIND Center (T.H.M.), University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Kelly R. Evenson
From the Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine (P.P.), Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY; Department of Epidemiology (A.R.S., R.F.G.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health (K.P.G.), The University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Neurology (R.F.G.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health (A.R.F.), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Department of Epidemiology (M.C.P.), Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC; Department of Epidemiology (K.R.E., G.H.), Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Departments of Radiology (C.R.J.) and Neurology (D.S.K.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and The MIND Center (T.H.M.), University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Clifford R. Jack Jr
From the Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine (P.P.), Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY; Department of Epidemiology (A.R.S., R.F.G.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health (K.P.G.), The University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Neurology (R.F.G.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health (A.R.F.), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Department of Epidemiology (M.C.P.), Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC; Department of Epidemiology (K.R.E., G.H.), Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Departments of Radiology (C.R.J.) and Neurology (D.S.K.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and The MIND Center (T.H.M.), University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
David S. Knopman
From the Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine (P.P.), Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY; Department of Epidemiology (A.R.S., R.F.G.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health (K.P.G.), The University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Neurology (R.F.G.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health (A.R.F.), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Department of Epidemiology (M.C.P.), Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC; Department of Epidemiology (K.R.E., G.H.), Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Departments of Radiology (C.R.J.) and Neurology (D.S.K.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and The MIND Center (T.H.M.), University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Thomas H. Mosley
From the Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine (P.P.), Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY; Department of Epidemiology (A.R.S., R.F.G.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health (K.P.G.), The University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Neurology (R.F.G.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health (A.R.F.), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Department of Epidemiology (M.C.P.), Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC; Department of Epidemiology (K.R.E., G.H.), Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Departments of Radiology (C.R.J.) and Neurology (D.S.K.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and The MIND Center (T.H.M.), University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Gerardo Heiss
From the Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine (P.P.), Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY; Department of Epidemiology (A.R.S., R.F.G.), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health (K.P.G.), The University of Alabama at Birmingham; Department of Neurology (R.F.G.), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD; Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health (A.R.F.), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Department of Epidemiology (M.C.P.), Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC; Department of Epidemiology (K.R.E., G.H.), Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Departments of Radiology (C.R.J.) and Neurology (D.S.K.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN; and The MIND Center (T.H.M.), University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Full PDF
Short Form
Citation
Prospective Analysis of Leisure-Time Physical Activity in Midlife and Beyond and Brain Damage on MRI in Older Adults
Priya Palta, A. Richey Sharrett, Kelley Pettee Gabriel, Rebecca F. Gottesman, Aaron R. Folsom, Melinda C. Power, Kelly R. Evenson, Clifford R. Jack, David S. Knopman, Thomas H. Mosley, Gerardo Heiss
Neurology Feb 2021, 96 (7) e964-e974; DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000011375

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Permissions

Make Comment

See Comments

Downloads
222

Share

  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • Info & Disclosures
Loading

This article requires a subscription to view the full text. If you have a subscription you may use the login form below to view the article. Access to this article can also be purchased.

Abstract

Objective To test the hypothesis that greater levels of leisure-time moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) in midlife or late life are associated with larger gray matter volumes, less white matter disease, and fewer cerebrovascular lesions measured in late life, we utilized data from 1,604 participants enrolled in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study.

Methods Leisure-time MVPA was quantified using a past-year recall, interviewer-administered questionnaire at baseline and 25 years later and classified as none, low, middle, and high at each time point. The presence of cerebrovascular lesions, white matter hyperintensities (WMH), white matter integrity (mean fractional anisotropy [FA] and mean diffusivity [MD]), and gray matter volumes were quantified with 3T MRI in late life. The odds of cerebrovascular lesions were estimated with logistic regression. Linear regression estimated the mean differences in WMH, mean FA and MD, and gray matter volumes.

Results Among 1,604 participants (mean age 53 years, 61% female, 27% Black), 550 (34%), 176 (11%), 250 (16%), and 628 (39%) reported no, low, middle, and high MVPA in midlife, respectively. Compared to no MVPA in midlife, high MVPA was associated with more intact white matter integrity in late life (mean FA difference 0.13 per SD [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.004, 0.26]; mean MD difference −0.11 per SD [95% CI −0.21, −0.004]). High MVPA in midlife was also associated with a lower odds of lacunar infarcts (odds ratio 0.68, 95% CI 0.46, 0.99). High MVPA was not associated with gray matter volumes. High MVPA compared to no MVPA in late life was associated with most brain measures.

Conclusion Greater levels of physical activity in midlife may protect against cerebrovascular sequelae in late life.

Glossary

AD=
Alzheimer disease;
ARIC=
Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities;
ARIC-NCS=
Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities–Neurocognitive Study;
BMI=
body mass index;
CI=
confidence interval;
DTI=
diffusion tensor imaging;
FA=
fractional anisotropy;
FLAIR=
fluid-attenuation inversion recovery;
LTPA=
leisure-time physical activity;
MD=
mean diffusivity;
MET=
metabolic equivalent of task;
MVPA=
moderate to vigorous physical activity;
OR=
odds ratio;
RCT=
randomized controlled trial;
ROI=
region of interest;
WM=
white matter;
WMH=
white matter hyperintensity

Footnotes

  • Go to Neurology.org/Nhttps://n.neurology.org/lookup/doi/10.1212/WNL.0000000000011375 for full disclosures. Funding information and disclosures deemed relevant by the authors, if any, are provided at the end of the article.

  • Editorial, page 297

  • Received April 18, 2020.
  • Accepted in final form October 7, 2020.
  • © 2021 American Academy of Neurology
View Full Text

AAN Members

We have changed the login procedure to improve access between AAN.com and the Neurology journals. If you are experiencing issues, please log out of AAN.com and clear history and cookies. (For instructions by browser, please click the instruction pages below). After clearing, choose preferred Journal and select login for AAN Members. You will be redirected to a login page where you can log in with your AAN ID number and password. When you are returned to the Journal, your name should appear at the top right of the page.

Google Safari Microsoft Edge Firefox

Click here to login

AAN Non-Member Subscribers

Click here to login

Purchase access

For assistance, please contact:
AAN Members (800) 879-1960 or (612) 928-6000 (International)
Non-AAN Member subscribers (800) 638-3030 or (301) 223-2300 option 3, select 1 (international)

Sign Up
Information on how to subscribe to Neurology and Neurology: Clinical Practice can be found here 

Purchase
Individual access to articles is available through the Add to Cart option on the article page.  Access for 1 day (from the computer you are currently using) is US$ 39.00.  Pay-per-view content is for the use of the payee only, and content may not be further distributed by print or electronic means.  The payee may view, download, and/or print the article for his/her personal, scholarly, research, and educational use.  Distributing copies (electronic or otherwise) of the article is not allowed.

Letters: Rapid online correspondence

No comments have been published for this article.
Comment

REQUIREMENTS

If you are uploading a letter concerning an article:
You must have updated your disclosures within six months: http://submit.neurology.org

Your co-authors must send a completed Publishing Agreement Form to Neurology Staff (not necessary for the lead/corresponding author as the form below will suffice) before you upload your comment.

If you are responding to a comment that was written about an article you originally authored:
You (and co-authors) do not need to fill out forms or check disclosures as author forms are still valid
and apply to letter.

Submission specifications:

  • Submissions must be < 200 words with < 5 references. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
  • Submissions should not have more than 5 authors. (Exception: original author replies can include all original authors of the article)
  • Submit only on articles published within 6 months of issue date.
  • Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
  • Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.

More guidelines and information on Disputes & Debates

Compose Comment

More information about text formats

Plain text

  • No HTML tags allowed.
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
Author Information
NOTE: The first author must also be the corresponding author of the comment.
First or given name, e.g. 'Peter'.
Your last, or family, name, e.g. 'MacMoody'.
Your email address, e.g. higgs-boson@gmail.com
Your role and/or occupation, e.g. 'Orthopedic Surgeon'.
Your organization or institution (if applicable), e.g. 'Royal Free Hospital'.
Publishing Agreement
NOTE: All authors, besides the first/corresponding author, must complete a separate Publishing Agreement Form and provide via email to the editorial office before comments can be posted.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Vertical Tabs

You May Also be Interested in

Back to top
  • Article
    • Abstract
    • Glossary
    • Methods
    • Results
    • Discussion
    • Study Funding
    • Disclosure
    • Acknowledgment
    • Appendix Authors
    • Footnotes
    • References
  • Figures & Data
  • Info & Disclosures
Advertisement

Use of Whole-Genome Sequencing for Mitochondrial Disease Diagnosis

Dr. Robert Pitceathly and Dr. William Macken

► Watch

Related Articles

  • What Can Longitudinal Observational Studies of Physical Activity Teach Us About Prevention of Dementia?

Topics Discussed

  • MRI
  • Cohort studies
  • Risk factors in epidemiology

Alert Me

  • Alert me when eletters are published

Recommended articles

  • Article
    Physical activity is related to the structural integrity of cerebral white matter
    Rob A.R. Gons, Anil M. Tuladhar, Karlijn F. de Laat et al.
    Neurology, August 06, 2013
  • Article
    Effects of vascular risk factors and APOE ε4 on white matter integrity and cognitive decline
    Rui Wang, Laura Fratiglioni, Erika J. Laukka et al.
    Neurology, February 11, 2015
  • Article
    Cerebral microbleeds are related to loss of white matter structural integrity
    Saloua Akoudad, Marius de Groot, Peter J. Koudstaal et al.
    Neurology, October 30, 2013
  • Article
    Physical activity, common brain pathologies, and cognition in community-dwelling older adults
    Aron S. Buchman, Lei Yu, Robert S. Wilson et al.
    Neurology, January 16, 2019
Neurology: 100 (12)

Articles

  • Ahead of Print
  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Popular Articles
  • Translations

About

  • About the Journals
  • Ethics Policies
  • Editors & Editorial Board
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise

Submit

  • Author Center
  • Submit a Manuscript
  • Information for Reviewers
  • AAN Guidelines
  • Permissions

Subscribers

  • Subscribe
  • Activate a Subscription
  • Sign up for eAlerts
  • RSS Feed
Site Logo
  • Visit neurology Template on Facebook
  • Follow neurology Template on Twitter
  • Visit Neurology on YouTube
  • Neurology
  • Neurology: Clinical Practice
  • Neurology: Education
  • Neurology: Genetics
  • Neurology: Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation
  • AAN.com
  • AANnews
  • Continuum
  • Brain & Life
  • Neurology Today

Wolters Kluwer Logo

Neurology | Print ISSN:0028-3878
Online ISSN:1526-632X

© 2023 American Academy of Neurology

  • Privacy Policy
  • Feedback
  • Advertise