Moderating effects of physical activity on the relationship between arterial stiffness and amyloid deposition in cognitively unimpaired older adults
Geon Ha Kim, Bori.R. Kim, Jee Hyang Jeong- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
- Neurology (clinical)
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Health Policy
- Epidemiology
Abstract
Background
Arterial stiffness is linked to age and cardiovascular risk factors and is associated with cognitive decline and dementia in older adults. The moderating effects of physical activity (PA) on the relationship between arterial stiffness and amyloid deposition have not been established. This study investigates this interaction effect.
Methods
94 cognitively unimpaired older adults underwent cognitive function tests, brain MRI, and 18F‐florbetaben (FBB) PET to quantify amyloid deposition. Arterial stiffness was measured by brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). PA was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Participants were divided into tertiles by MET‐hour/week values, and the correlation between baPWV and amyloid deposition was compared in the lowest and highest PA groups.
Results
Participants were mostly female (76.6%) with a mean age of 72.5 and 10.6 years of education. There was a significant positive correlation between baPWV and amyloid deposition (r = 0.3, P = 0.04). In the lowest PA group, there was a significant positive correlation between baPWV and amyloid deposition (r = 0.48, P = 0.037), but not in the highest PA group (r = 0.11, P = 0.61).
Conclusion
PA has a moderating effect on the relationship between arterial stiffness and amyloid deposition, suggesting that higher PA may attenuate this link.