Higher VO2max is associated with thicker cortex and lower grey matter blood flow in older adults
Abstract VO2max (maximal oxygen consumption), a validated measure of aerobic fitness, has been associated with better cerebral artery compliance and measures of brain morphology, such as higher cortical thickness (CT) in frontal, temporal and cingular cortices, and larger grey matter volume (GMV) of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-96138-5 |
| _version_ | 1818343989646983168 |
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| author | Gaia Olivo Jonna Nilsson Benjamín Garzón Alexander Lebedev Anders Wåhlin Olga Tarassova Maria M. Ekblom Martin Lövdén |
| author_facet | Gaia Olivo Jonna Nilsson Benjamín Garzón Alexander Lebedev Anders Wåhlin Olga Tarassova Maria M. Ekblom Martin Lövdén |
| author_sort | Gaia Olivo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract VO2max (maximal oxygen consumption), a validated measure of aerobic fitness, has been associated with better cerebral artery compliance and measures of brain morphology, such as higher cortical thickness (CT) in frontal, temporal and cingular cortices, and larger grey matter volume (GMV) of the middle temporal gyrus, hippocampus, orbitofrontal cortex and cingulate cortex. Single sessions of physical exercise can promptly enhance cognitive performance and brain activity during executive tasks. However, the immediate effects of exercise on macro-scale properties of the brain’s grey matter remain unclear. We investigated the impact of one session of moderate-intensity physical exercise, compared with rest, on grey matter volume, cortical thickness, working memory performance, and task-related brain activity in older adults. Cross-sectional associations between brain measures and VO2max were also tested. Exercise did not induce statistically significant changes in brain activity, grey matter volume, or cortical thickness. Cardiovascular fitness, measured by VO2max, was associated with lower grey matter blood flow in the left hippocampus and thicker cortex in the left superior temporal gyrus. Cortical thickness was reduced at post-test independent of exercise/rest. Our findings support that (1) fitter individuals may need lower grey matter blood flow to meet metabolic oxygen demand, and (2) have thicker cortex. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T16:39:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-515f4d44d7154ee6ac48405a623f0f7f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T16:39:21Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-515f4d44d7154ee6ac48405a623f0f7f2022-12-21T23:38:18ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222021-08-0111111310.1038/s41598-021-96138-5Higher VO2max is associated with thicker cortex and lower grey matter blood flow in older adultsGaia Olivo0Jonna Nilsson1Benjamín Garzón2Alexander Lebedev3Anders Wåhlin4Olga Tarassova5Maria M. Ekblom6Martin Lövdén7Department of Psychology, University of GothenburgAging Research Center (ARC), Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska InstitutetDepartment of Psychology, University of GothenburgAging Research Center (ARC), Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska InstitutetDepartment of Radiation Sciences, Umeå UniversityThe Swedish School of Sport and Health SciencesThe Swedish School of Sport and Health SciencesDepartment of Psychology, University of GothenburgAbstract VO2max (maximal oxygen consumption), a validated measure of aerobic fitness, has been associated with better cerebral artery compliance and measures of brain morphology, such as higher cortical thickness (CT) in frontal, temporal and cingular cortices, and larger grey matter volume (GMV) of the middle temporal gyrus, hippocampus, orbitofrontal cortex and cingulate cortex. Single sessions of physical exercise can promptly enhance cognitive performance and brain activity during executive tasks. However, the immediate effects of exercise on macro-scale properties of the brain’s grey matter remain unclear. We investigated the impact of one session of moderate-intensity physical exercise, compared with rest, on grey matter volume, cortical thickness, working memory performance, and task-related brain activity in older adults. Cross-sectional associations between brain measures and VO2max were also tested. Exercise did not induce statistically significant changes in brain activity, grey matter volume, or cortical thickness. Cardiovascular fitness, measured by VO2max, was associated with lower grey matter blood flow in the left hippocampus and thicker cortex in the left superior temporal gyrus. Cortical thickness was reduced at post-test independent of exercise/rest. Our findings support that (1) fitter individuals may need lower grey matter blood flow to meet metabolic oxygen demand, and (2) have thicker cortex.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-96138-5 |
| spellingShingle | Gaia Olivo Jonna Nilsson Benjamín Garzón Alexander Lebedev Anders Wåhlin Olga Tarassova Maria M. Ekblom Martin Lövdén Higher VO2max is associated with thicker cortex and lower grey matter blood flow in older adults Scientific Reports |
| title | Higher VO2max is associated with thicker cortex and lower grey matter blood flow in older adults |
| title_full | Higher VO2max is associated with thicker cortex and lower grey matter blood flow in older adults |
| title_fullStr | Higher VO2max is associated with thicker cortex and lower grey matter blood flow in older adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Higher VO2max is associated with thicker cortex and lower grey matter blood flow in older adults |
| title_short | Higher VO2max is associated with thicker cortex and lower grey matter blood flow in older adults |
| title_sort | higher vo2max is associated with thicker cortex and lower grey matter blood flow in older adults |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-96138-5 |
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