The association between aerobic fitness and executive function is mediated by prefrontal cortex volume

Andrea M Weinstein; Michelle W Voss; Ruchika Shaurya Prakash; Laura Chaddock; Amanda Szabo; Siobhan M White; Thomas R Wojcicki; Emily Mailey; Edward McAuley; Arthur F Kramer; Kirk I Erickson

doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2011.11.008

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The association between aerobic fitness and executive function is mediated by prefrontal cortex volume

Journal article

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The association between aerobic fitness and executive function is mediated by prefrontal cortex volume

Andrea M Weinstein, Michelle W Voss, Ruchika Shaurya Prakash, Laura Chaddock, Amanda Szabo, Siobhan M White, Thomas R Wojcicki, Emily Mailey, Edward McAuley, Arthur F Kramer, …

Brain, behavior, and immunity, Vol.26(5), pp.811-819

07/2012

DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2011.11.008

PMCID: PMC3321393

PMID: 22172477

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https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/3321393View

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Abstract

► The association between aerobic fitness and better performance on measures of executive function is mediated by the size of the prefrontal cortex. Aging is marked by a decline in cognitive function, which is often preceded by losses in gray matter volume. Fortunately, higher cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) levels are associated with an attenuation of age-related losses in gray matter volume and a reduced risk for cognitive impairment. Despite these links, we have only a rudimentary understanding of whether fitness-related increases in gray matter volume lead to elevated cognitive function. In this cross-sectional study, we examined whether the association between higher aerobic fitness levels and elevated executive function was mediated by greater gray matter volume in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). One hundred and forty-two older adults (mean age=66.6years) completed structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, CRF assessments, and performed Stroop and spatial working memory (SPWM) tasks. Gray matter volume was assessed using an optimized voxel-based morphometry approach. Consistent with our predictions, higher fitness levels were associated with: (a) better performance on both the Stroop and SPWM tasks, and (b) greater gray matter volume in several regions, including the dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC). Volume of the right inferior frontal gyrus and precentral gyrus mediated the relationship between CRF and Stroop interference while a non-overlapping set of regions bilaterally in the DLPFC mediated the association between CRF and SPWM accuracy. These results suggest that specific regions of the DLPFC differentially relate to inhibition and spatial working memory. Thus, fitness may influence cognitive function by reducing brain atrophy in targeted areas in healthy older adults.

Mediation

Cardiorespiratory fitness

Executive function

Prefrontal cortex

Cortical volume

Voxel-based morphometry

Details

Title: Subtitle: The association between aerobic fitness and executive function is mediated by prefrontal cortex volume
Creators: Andrea M Weinstein - Department of Psychology and the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Michelle W Voss - Department of Psychology and Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States
Ruchika Shaurya Prakash - Department of Psychology, The Ohio State University, United States
Laura Chaddock - Department of Psychology and Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States
Amanda Szabo - Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States
Siobhan M White - Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States
Thomas R Wojcicki - Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States
Emily Mailey - Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States
Edward McAuley - Department of Kinesiology and Community Health, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States
Arthur F Kramer - Department of Psychology and Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States
Kirk I Erickson - Department of Psychology and the Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, PA, United States
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Brain, behavior, and immunity, Vol.26(5), pp.811-819
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2011.11.008
PMID: 22172477
PMCID: PMC3321393
NLM abbreviation: Brain Behav Immun
ISSN: 0889-1591
eISSN: 1090-2139
Publisher: Elsevier Inc
Grant note: name: National Institute on Aging at the National Institutes of Health, award: RO1 AG25667, RO1 AG25032; name: Pittsburgh Claude D Pepper Older Americans Independence Center, award: P30 AG024827; name: University of Pittsburgh Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, award: P50 AG005133; DOI: 10.13039/100000057, name: National Institute of General Medical Sciences, award: T32GM081760
Language: English
Date published: 07/2012
Academic Unit: Psychological and Brain Sciences; Iowa Neuroscience Institute
Record Identifier: 9984002469202771

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