Exercise and Cognitive Aging

描述（由申请人提供）：该资助申请寻求支持，以开发有关旨在改善与年龄相关的认知能力下降的行为干预的初步数据。它将调查有氧健身干预对轻度认知障碍（MCI）老年人认知功能的影响。MCI被认为是阿尔茨海默病（Alzheimer's Disease，AD）发展过程中的一种过渡性状态。最近的研究表明，有氧运动增强海马和新皮层的神经发生，并增强老年人由这些大脑结构介导的认知能力。运动也被证明可以增加神经营养因子。此外，在老年人中已经观察到糖皮质激素水平与海马和新皮质完整性之间的负相关关系，并且皮质醇的升高与AD有关。我们提出了一项探索性研究，评估有氧运动干预在增强MCI患者认知功能方面的疗效。第二个目标是评估干预对基础皮质醇水平调制的影响，这是海马和新皮质完整性的间接指标。在一项随机对照研究中，我们将对先前久坐不动的轻度认知障碍男性和女性进行为期12周的有氧训练计划。我们将研究执行功能能力、情景记忆功能和基础皮质醇的变化。情绪、心脏功能和有氧能力的变化也将被评估为可能的介导因素。这项研究的结果将代表评估有氧运动作为一种行为因素的有效性的最初但重要的一步，最终可能会发现延迟，逮捕或逆转与年龄相关的认知衰退的进展。它还将产生数据，表明干预措施在调节皮质醇方面的有效性，皮质醇的升高与老年人大脑恶化的重大风险有关。改善效果的演示将为未来的研究提供基础，研究认知大脑对运动的适应的具体性质，不同形式的运动的相对益处，以及剂量和效果持续时间的问题。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This grant application seeks support to develop preliminary data concerning a behavioral intervention aimed at ameliorating age-associated cognitive decline. It will investigate the effect of an aerobic fitness intervention on cognitive function in elderly individuals with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). MCI has been recognized as a transitional condition in the development of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Recent studies have shown that aerobic exercise potentiates neurogenesis in the hippocampus and neocortex and enhances cognitive abilities mediated by these brain structures in elderly adults. Exercise also has been shown to increase neurotrophic factors. Furthermore, inverse relationships have been observed in the aged between glucocorticoid levels and hippocampal and neocortical integrity, and elevations of cortisol have been implicated in AD. We propose an exploratory study evaluating the efficacy of an aerobic exercise intervention in enhancing cognitive function in MCI. A secondary goal is assessment of the effect of the intervention on modulation of basal cortisol level, an indirect index of hippocampal and neocortical integrity. In a randomized, controlled study, we will conduct a 12-week aerobic conditioning program with previously sedentary men and women with Mild Cognitive Impairment. We will investigate changes in executive function ability, episodic memory function, and basal cortisol. Changes in mood, cardiac function, and aerobic capacity also will be assessed as possible mediating factors. The findings of this study would represent an initial but essential step in evaluating the efficacy of aerobic exercise as a behavioral factor that ultimately might be found to delay, arrest, or conceivably reverse progression of age-related cognitive decline. It also would yield data indicating the effectiveness of the intervention in modulating cortisol, elevation of which is associated with substantial risk for cerebral deterioration in the elderly. The demonstration of an ameliorating effect would provide the basis for future investigations examining the specific nature of the cognitive-cerebral adaptations to exercise, the relative benefits of different forms of exercise, and issues of dosage and duration of effect.