Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
Memorial Day
Our office will be closed Monday, May 30th in observance of Memorial Day. We will reopen at regular business hours on Tuesday, May 31st.Research Study Abstract
- Home /
- Research Database /
- Research Study Abstract
Moderate Intensity Physical Activity is Associated with CSF Biomarkers in Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease
- Published on Jul 2017
Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology is characterized by the presence of amyloid (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Physical activity (PA) has emerged as a possible modifier of these pathological changes associated with AD. Consequently, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between objectively-measured PA and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of Aβ42 and tau in asymptomatic late-middle-aged adults at risk for AD.
Methods: Fifty cognitively healthy late-middle-aged adults (age=63.17 years, 68.0% female) from the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention participated in this study. They wore an accelerometer (ActiGraph GT3X+) for one week to record free-living PA. Accelerometer data yielded measures of sedentariness and various intensities of PA (i.e., light, moderate, and vigorous, determined according to well-established standards). Participants also underwent lumbar puncture for collection of CSF, from which Aβ42, total tau (t-tau) and phosphorylated tau (p-tau) were immunoassayed. We additionally computed tau-to-Aβ42 ratios. Regression analyses were utilized to examine the association between sedentariness/PA and CSF biomarkers, while adjusting for age, sex, apolipoprotein ε4 status, and interval between CSF collection and accelerometer data.
Results: Sedentariness was significantly associated with reduced Aβ42 (p=.023) and increased p-tau/Aβ42 (p=.018). Furthermore, engagement in moderate-intensity PA was significantly associated with higher Aβ42 (p=.002), lower t-tau/Aβ42 (p=.001), and lower p-tau/Aβ42 (p=.002). In contrast, neither light- nor vigorous-intensity PA was significantly associated with any of the biomarkers. The relationship between moderate-intensity PA and CSF biomarkers persisted (p=.009 for Aβ42; p=.008 for t-tau/Aβ42; and p=.003 for p-tau/Aβ42) even after accounting for time spent in light- and vigorous-intensity PA categories.
Conclusions: In this cohort of late-middle-aged adults at risk for AD, sedentariness was associated with greater AD pathophysiology, while moderate-intensity PA was associated with a favorable biomarker profile. These findings are consistent with previous studies that suggest a physically active lifestyle may play a protective role against the development of AD.
Author(s)
- Lena L. Law 1,2,3
- Rachael N. Rol 1,2,3
- Stephanie A. Schultz 1,2,3
- Ryan J. Dougherty 4
- Dorothy Farrar Edwards 1,2,5
- Jean A. Einerson 6
- Rebecca L. Koscik 3
- Catherine L. Gallagher 1,2
- Cynthia M. Carlsson 1,2
- Barbara B. Bendlin 1,2,3
- Henrik Zetterberg 7
- Kaj Blennow 7
- Sanjay Asthana 1,2
- Mark A. Sager 1,3
- Bruce P. Hermann 1,3
- James H. Stein 6
- Sterling C. Johnson 1,2,3
- Dane B. Cook 4,8
- Ozioma C. Okonkwo 1,2,3
Institution(s)
-
1
-
2 Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, USA
-
3 Wisconsin Alzheimer's Institute, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
-
4 University of Wisconsin School of Education, Madison, WI, USA
-
5 University of Wisconsin Program in Occupational Therapy, Madison, WI, USA
-
6 University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
-
7 Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
-
8 Research Service, William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, USA
Journal
Alzheimers & Dementia