Senioren strampeln für die Wissenschaft

Beschreibung

Artikel im Kölner Stadt Anzeiger über das AgeGain Projekt

Thema

There is evidence that physical activity (PA) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are associated with reduced brain tissue loss and reduced risk for cognitive impairment in aging humans. Moreover, aerobic exercise training (AET) increased gray and white matter volume in the prefrontal cortex of older adults and lead to significant improvements of executive function. Further, hippocampal and medial temporal lobe volumes were larger in higher-fit older adults and larger hippocampal volumes mediated improvements in spatial memory. AET increases cerebral blood volume, perfusion and the adult hippocampal volume. It has been suggested that the aforementioned structural changes are mediated by neurotrophins, in particular the brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). We and others demonstrated that exercise induces significant increases in levels of BDNF and other growth factors, and higher serum BDNF after aerobic training was associated with larger anterior hippocampal volume. Using diffusion-tensor imaging (DTI) more recent studies measured brain structural integrity as a function of CRF and AE in healthy elderly (HE). Fractional anisotropy of the corpus callosum (CC) was reported to be positively correlated to CRF in HE. Thus, CRF might modulate age-related alterations of CC integrity. There is evidence that the beneficial effects of PA on cognitive performance is not limited to CRF but is also present after resistance and coordination exercise training (CET). Coordination training aims at improving the efficiency of complex body movements including eye-hand coordination, bimanual coordination, leg-arm coordination and reactions to moving objects. Such types of complex movements (e.g. bimanual coordination) require bihemispheric interactions via the CC, and both, size and structural integrity of the CC typically change after sensorimotor skill acquisition. In sum, (AET) and (CET) are associated with positive structural and functional brain changes as well as improvements of cognitive performance in HE. Moreover, cerebral regions targeted by these interventions are primarily involved in age-related cognitive decline including the CC, the hippocampus, frontal and temporal cortices, and the default mode network (DMN). In this multicenter project, we will determine if physical training comprising aerobic and coordination components (ACT) modulates transfer of cognitive training gains in HE. Moreover, we will determine the impact of baseline physical activity on transfer in HE. Therefore, 72 HE recruited at the University Hospital Cologne will undergo an experimental protocol including ACT followed by a cognitive training period. Additionally, 15 patients will be enrolled undergoing the standard experimental protocol without ACT to assure that the net effect of the cognitive training does not differ from the effects at the other trial sites.