AnalyzeDirect 
Along with increased longevity comes a greater risk of developing age-related diseases, cognitive impairment and dementia. Developing effective strategies to reduce the risk of cognitive decline or slow its progression is, therefore, critical.
Vascular risk factors, including hypertension, heart disease, smoking, hypercholesterolemia, and lack of physical activity, have been identified as modifiable risk factors contributing to white matter hyperintensities (WMH) – dilated perivascular spaces or demyelination caused by reduced local blood flow – which are strongly associated with cognitive decline. Thus, it is believed that if the progression of white matter changes could be reduced altering modifiable risk factors, it might also contribute to the prevention or delay of cognitive decline.
An ongoing study started in 2012 by researchers from the School of Medicine and Pharmacology from the University of Western Australia, investigates whether a 24-months physical activity program can delay the progression of WMH on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The 156 participants involved in the study are seniors, aged 60 and older, free of dementia but with subjective memory complaints, mild cognitive impairment, and at least one vascular risk factor.
It is well established that physical activity is essential in maintaining physical abilities and independence in older age. Its cognitive-enhancing effects include neurogenesis, increased cerebral blood flow, reduced neuroinflammation, reduced brain beta-amyloid burden (peptides which represent the main component of the amyloid plaques) and elevated levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factors (proteins that are responsible for the growth and survival of developing neurons and the maintenance of mature neurons). The physical activity program performed by the subjects of this trial consists of at least 150 min/week of moderate physical activity, for instance walking where this type of activity is an acceptable option to the participant.
At the end of the trial, high resolution MRI scans will be acquired to allow accurate evaluation of white matter disease and brain atrophy. Volumetric analysis of the white matter lesions will be performed using Analyze software and their volumes will be summed to give a total lesion volume.
Manual segmentation will also be performed by identifying the contours of the hippocampus on coronal T1 weighted images. Individual changes in hippocampal volumes, in fact, may predict conversion of mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer’s disease.
Should this study prove that physical activity can slow down the progression of WMH, this trial would provide an important proof of concept and represent an affordable and safe method to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
Tags: Cognitive Development, Physical Activity