Physical activity-related individual differences in functional human connectome are linked to fluid intelligence in older adults

Dominika M Pindus; Meishan Ai; Laura Chaddock-Heyman; Agnieszka Z Burzynska; Neha P Gothe; Elizabeth A Salerno; Jason Fanning; Sheeba R A Arnold Anteraper; Alfonso N Castanon; Susan Whitfield-Gabrieli; Charles H Hillman; Edward McAuley; Arthur F Kramer

doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2024.02.002

Physical activity-related individual differences in functional human connectome are linked to fluid intelligence in older adults

Neurobiol Aging. 2024 May:137:94-104. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2024.02.002. Epub 2024 Feb 8.

Affiliations

¹ Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA. Electronic address: pindus@illinois.edu.
² Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
³ Neuroscience Program, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
⁴ College of Health and Human Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
⁵ Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Department of Physical Therapy, Movement, & Rehabilitation Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
⁶ School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA.
⁷ Department of Health and Exercise Science, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
⁸ Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, IL, USA.
⁹ Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Physical Therapy, Movement, & Rehabilitation Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
¹¹ Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA.

PMID: 38460470
DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2024.02.002

Abstract

The study examined resting state functional connectivity (rs-FC) associated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MV-PA), sedentary time (ST), TV viewing, computer use, and their relationship to cognitive performance in older adults. We used pre-intervention data from 119 participants from the Fit & Active Seniors trial. Multivariate pattern analysis revealed two seeds associated with MV-PA: right superior frontal gyrus (SFG; spanning frontoparietal [FPN] and ventral attention networks [VAN]) and right precentral (PrG) and postcentral gyri (PoG) of the somatosensory network (SN). A positive correlation between the right SFG seed and a cluster spanning default mode (DMN), dorsal attention (DAN), FPN, and visual networks (VIS) was linked to higher fluid intelligence, as was FC between the right PrG/PoG seed and a cluster in VIS. No significant rs-FC patterns associated with ST, TV viewing, or computer use were found. Our findings suggest that greater functional integration within networks implementing top-down control and within those supporting visuospatial abilities, paired with segregation between networks critical and those not critical to top-down control, may help promote cognitive reserve in more physically active seniors.

Keywords: Cognitive function; Functional connectivity; Multivariate pattern analyses; Older adults; Physical activity; Sedentary behaviors.

MeSH terms

Aged
Brain / diagnostic imaging
Connectome*
Humans
Individuality
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Prefrontal Cortex