Healthy aging is associated with remarkable changes in the brain structural integrity and functional connectivity. Compared with younger adults, older people exhibit white matter changes, probably due to loss of myelin integrity, mild reactive astrocytic gliosis, and blood-brain barrier dysfunction, among other factors. Moreover, these changes have in turn been linked with deficits in cognitive performance in several domains, like memory, mental processing speed, reasoning, and spatial orientation.
Studies in both humans and non-human animal models have highlighted that physical activity is associated with preserved integrity of the white matter, improved health and cognitive function, longevity, and reduced risk of chronic disease. Physical activity increases brain perfusion, hippocampal neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, and myelin remodeling that help maintain white matter integrity.
This Research Topic aims to provide a platform to gather studies examining the effects of physical activity on the white matter of the aging brain.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Anatomical specificity of the relationship between physical activity and white matter.
- Impact of age and gender in the physical activity – white matter relationship.
- Physical activity, white matter, and super-aging.
- Biological mechanisms that underlie the effects of physical activity on white matter.
- Insights into the type of physical activity, frequency, and intensity that mediates white matter integrity.
- Physical activity, white matter, and cognition.
- Chemical biomarkers associated with white matter integrity that are influenced by physical activity.
Healthy aging is associated with remarkable changes in the brain structural integrity and functional connectivity. Compared with younger adults, older people exhibit white matter changes, probably due to loss of myelin integrity, mild reactive astrocytic gliosis, and blood-brain barrier dysfunction, among other factors. Moreover, these changes have in turn been linked with deficits in cognitive performance in several domains, like memory, mental processing speed, reasoning, and spatial orientation.
Studies in both humans and non-human animal models have highlighted that physical activity is associated with preserved integrity of the white matter, improved health and cognitive function, longevity, and reduced risk of chronic disease. Physical activity increases brain perfusion, hippocampal neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, and myelin remodeling that help maintain white matter integrity.
This Research Topic aims to provide a platform to gather studies examining the effects of physical activity on the white matter of the aging brain.
Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Anatomical specificity of the relationship between physical activity and white matter.
- Impact of age and gender in the physical activity – white matter relationship.
- Physical activity, white matter, and super-aging.
- Biological mechanisms that underlie the effects of physical activity on white matter.
- Insights into the type of physical activity, frequency, and intensity that mediates white matter integrity.
- Physical activity, white matter, and cognition.
- Chemical biomarkers associated with white matter integrity that are influenced by physical activity.
