Table 2.
Summary of studies with cross-sectional designs
| Author | Sample Size | Age | Female Rate % |
MRI Protocol | Scanner Field Strength | PA/ CRF Assessment | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palta et al. (2021) | 1604 | 45—64 | 61 |
T1 T2 DTI |
3 T | PA ( |
WMH: ns Microstructural changes: ↑ MVPA at midlife ~ ↑ FA (p = 0.021) and ↓ MD (p = 0.019) at late life (after 25 years) Cognition: NA |
| Balbim et al. (2021) | 34 | > 65 | 56 |
T1 T2 DTI |
3 T | PA (questionnaire) |
WMH: ns WMV: ↑ MVPA ~ ↑ WMV in posterior cingulate (p = 0.047) and isthmus cingulate (p = 0.044) Microstructural changes: PA ~ FA: ns Cognition: NA |
| d’Arbeloff et al. (2021) | 801 | At 45 | 48 |
T1 DTI |
3 T | CRF (cycle ergometer) |
Microstructural changes: FA ~ CRF: ns Cognition: NA |
| Koblinsky et al. (2021) | 66 | 65—85 | 62 | T1 | 3 T | PA (questionnaire) |
WMV: ns Cognition: ns |
| Tarumi et al. (2021) |
30 aerobic 30 sedentary |
45—64 | 50 |
T1 DTI |
3 T | CRF |
WMV: ns Microstructural changes: Global FA and AD was significantly higher in aerobic group. Regional TBSS results: ↑ FA in the genu of CC, cingulum, fornix, SLF, fronto-occipital fasciculus, uncinate fasciculus, anterior and superior corona radiata, anterior limb of internal capsule, (p = 0.042) ↑ CRF ~ ↑ FA and AD in same regions ↑ CRF ~ ↑ RD in brainstem; ↓ RD in the external capsule Cognition: NA |
| Gu et al. (2020) | 1443 | > 65 | 63.8 |
T1 T2 |
1.5 T | PA (questionnaire) |
WMH: ns WMV: ↑ leisure time PA ~ ↑ total WM and hippocampal volume (p = 0.03) Cognition: NA |
| Kim et al. (2020) |
35 super agers 55 typical agers |
> 60 | 83 |
T1 DTI |
3 T | PA (FitBit for a week) |
Microstructural changes: ↑ PA ~ ↑ FA in the body of CC (p = 0.04) and ↓ MD (p = 0.03) and RD (p = 0.01) in left inferior longitudinal fasciculus AD: ns Cognition: NA |
| Johnson et al. (2020) | 76 | 59—77 | 61.8 |
T1 T2 |
3 T | CRF |
WMH: ↑ CRF ~ ↓ WMH volume in older participants (p = 0.04) Cognition: NA |
| Strömmer et al. (2020) | 399 | 18—87 | 55.4 |
T1 DTI |
3 T | PA (questionnaire) |
Microstructural changes: ↑ PA ~ ↑ FA preservation in 4 out of 21 ROIs including the genu of CC, uncinate fasciculus, external capsule, anterior limb of internal capsule Cognition: ↑ FA in the genu of CC ~ less age-related slowing of cognitive processing |
| Wittfeld et al. (2020) | 2103 | 21 – 84 | 52.4 | T1 | 1.5 T | CRF |
WMV: ns Cognition: NA |
| Raichlen et al. (2019) | 7148 | 40 – 69 | 57.1 |
T1 T2 |
3 T |
CRF PA (accelerometer) |
WMH: ↑ CRF ~ ↓ WMH loads (p = 0.002) ↑ MV-PA ~ ↓ WMH loads (p = 0.02) MV: moderate-to-vigorous Cognition: NA |
| Opel et al. (2019) | 1050 | 28.8 | 54.5 |
T1 DTI |
3 T | PF (walking endurance test) |
Microstructural changes: ↑ PF ~ ↑ FA in widespread clusters including the genu of CC, bilateral SLF, bilateral uncinate fasciculus, bilateral internal and external capsule, CST, and cerebellar peduncles Cognition: ↑ PF ~ increased global cognitive function |
| Williamson et al. (2018) | 52 | 18—40 | 49 |
T1 T2 DTI |
3 T | PA (VO2) |
WMH: ↑ CRF associated with ↓ WMH anomalies and ↑ Blood flow & vessel density Cognition: NA |
| Vesperman et al. (2018) | 107 | 40 -65 | 65.4 |
T1 T2 |
3 T | CRF |
WMH: ↑ CRF ~ ↓ WMH volumes Cognition: NA |
| Gujral et al. (2018) | 105 | 60—80 | 63 |
T1 DTI |
3 T | PA (questionnaire) |
Microstructural changes: ↑ FA in CC, anterior thalamic radiation, and superior longitudinal fasciculus predicted higher adherence to PA over 12 months aerobic intervention (p = 0.05) Cognition: NA |
| Jochem et al. (2017) | 834 | 25—83 | 53.5 | T1 | 1.5 T |
PA (questionnaire) MRI after 6 years |
WMV: ns Cognition: NA |
| Pentikäinen et al. (2017) | 68 | 61 -75 | 42.6 | T1 | 1.5 T | CRF |
WMV: ns Cognition: NA |
| Bracht et al. (2016) | 30 | 25.5(4.2) | 57.5 |
T1 DTI mcDESPOT |
3 T | PA (actigraphy) |
Microstructural changes: FA: ns; MD: ns; AD: ns; RD: ns ↑ PA ~ ↑ MWF (p = 0.007) in the right parahippocampal cingulum (with positive ns trend in fornix) Cognition: NA |
| Smith et al. (2016) | 88 | 65—89 | 73.8 |
T1 DTI |
3 T |
PA (Questionnaire) DTI after 18 months |
Microstructural changes: ↓ PA ~ ↑ FA in the left fornix and stria terminals MD: ns; AD: ns; RD: ns Cognition: NA |
| Oberlin et al. (2016) |
113 (Group 1) 154 (Group 2) |
60—81 60—80 |
_ |
T2 DTI-G1 (12) DTI-G2 (30) |
3 T | CRF |
Microstructural changes: Group 1: ↑ CRF ~ ↑ FA in the CC, fornix, bilateral ACR and anterior internal capsule Group 2: ↑ CRF ~ ↑ FA in the CC, left Cingulum, bilateral internal capsule, anterior and superior corona radiata, bilateral superior longitudinal fasciculus ↑ CRF ~ ↓ FA in the bilateral posterior limb of internal capsule (all p < 0.05) Cognition: ↑ CRF associated with ↑ FA and this in turn was associated with better memory performance |
| Freudenberger et al. (2016) | 877 | 65 (7.7) | 55 |
T1 T2 |
1.5 T | CRF |
WML: ns Cognition: ↑ CRF ~ higher global cognitive function |
| Tian et al. (2015) | 146 | 69.6 | 58 | T1 | 1.5 T | CRF |
WMV: ↑ CRF ~ ↑ WMV in temporal and parietal at baseline (p = 0.05) Cognition: NA |
| Hayes et al. (2015) |
32 young 27 old |
18—31 55—82 |
53.1 55.5 |
T1 DTI |
3 T | CRF |
Microstructural changes: ↑ FA in young and higher fit old adults compared to lower fit old adults in splenium of CC, posterior corona radiata, sagittal stratum, and right superior parietal regions Cognition: NA |
| Zhu et al. (2015) | 565 | 18 -30 | 54.3 |
T1 T2 DTI |
_ |
CRF MRI after 5 years |
WMV: ↑ CRF ~ ↑ WMV Microstructural changes: ↑ CRF ~ ↑ FA Cognition: NA |
| Boots et al. (2015) | 315 | 40 -65 | 67.9 |
T1 T2 |
3 T |
CRF (questionnaire) 85 subsets (VO2) |
WMH: ↑ CRF ~ ↓ WMH volume, (p = 0.001) Cognition: ↑ CRF ~ better cognitive function |
| Frederiksen et al. (2015) | 282 | 64—85 | 58.1 |
T2 FLAIR |
_ | PA (questionnaire) |
WMH: ns Cognition: ↑ PA ~ higher executive function, but not memory |
| Fleischman et al. (2015) | 167 | 60 -96 | 79 |
T1 T2 |
1.5 T | PA (actigraphy) |
WMH: ns Cognition: NA |
| Burzynska et al. (2014) | 88 | 60—78 | 66.2 |
T2 DTI |
3 T | PA (accelerometer) |
WML: ↑ MV-PA ~ ↓ WML (p = 0.004) Microstructural changes: FA: ns ↑ light PA ~ ↑ FA in temporal lobe (p = 0.02) ↑ ~ ↓ FA in Parahippocampal (p = 0.03) Cognition: NA |
| Herting et al. (2014) | 34 | 15 – 18 | 0 |
T1 DTI |
3 T |
CRF PA (actigraphy) |
Microstructural changes: ↑ CRF ~ ↓ FA in left CST (p < 0.05) CRF ~ AD: ns CRF ~ RD: ns Cognition: NA |
| Tian et al. (2014a) |
39: Sedentary 148: Life activity 89: Exercise |
70—79 | 58.7 |
T1 DTI |
3 T | PA (self-report time spent walking) |
WMH: ns Microstructural changes: ↑ PA ~ ↓ MD in the medial temporal lobe (p = 0.023) and cingulate cortex (p = 0.006) PA ~ FA: ns Cognition: NA |
| Tian et al. (2014b) | 164 | > 80 | 51.8 |
T1 FLAIR DTI |
3 T | CRF based on 400 m walk as fast as possible |
Microstructural changes: ↑ CRF ~ ↑ FA in cingulum (p = 0.019), and ↓ MD in Hippocampus (p = 0.035) and entorhinal cortex (p = 0.006) Cognition: NA |
| Wirth et al. (2014) | 92 | 60 -90 | 63 |
T1 PET |
1.5 T | PA (questionnaire) |
WML: ↑ PA ~ ↓ WML volumes (p = 0.05) Cognition: ↑ PA ~ higher global cognitive performance |
| Demirakca et al. (2014) | 95 | 19 -82 | 53.6 | T1 | 3 T | PA (questionnaire) |
WMV: Only in subjects > 40 years old ↑ PA ~ ↑ WMV in the right posterior cingulate gyrus and precuneus (p = 0.004), and left posterior cingulate gyrus (p = 0.023) Cognition: NA |
| Liu et al. (2012) |
9 actives 6 control |
60—76 | 46.6 | DTI (21) | 3 T |
CRF PA (self-report time spent walking) |
Microstructural changes: ↑ CRF ~ ↑ FA, (voxel-wise correlation, p < 0.05) in the internal capsule, genu of CC, and brain stem Cognition: NA |
| Johnson et al. (2012) | 26 | 60—69 | 53.8 |
T1 DTI (36) |
3 T | CRF |
Microstructural changes: ↑ CRF ~ ↑ FA and ↓ RD in CC CRF ~ MD: ns CRF ~ AD: ns Cognition: NA |
| Benedict et al. (2013) | 331 | At 75 | 49.5 | T1 | 1.5 T | PA (questionnaire) |
WMV: ↑ PA ~ ↑ total WM volume Cognition: ↑ PA was associated with higher memory performance |
| Gow et al. (2012) | 638 | At 70 | 47.3 |
T1 T2, T2* DTI |
1.5 T | PA (questionnaire) |
WMV and WML: ↑ PA was associated with ↑ WMV and ↓ WML Microstructural changes: ↑ FA was associated with ↑ PA (p = 0.014) MD: ns Cognition: NA |
| Marks et al. (2011) |
8 actives 7 control |
60—76 | 46.6 |
T1 DTI |
3 T | CRF |
Microstructural changes: ↑ CRF ~ ↑ FA moderately in left middle cingulum (p = 0.04) CRF ~ MD: ns Cognition: NA |
| Bugg and Head (2011) | 52 | 55—79 | 71.1 | T1 | 1.5 T | PA (questionnaire) over the past 10 years |
WMV: ns Cognition: NA |
| Ho et al. (2011) | 226 | 77.9 (3.6) | 57.5 | T1 | 1.5 T | PA (questionnaire) |
WMV: ↑ PA ~ WMV in corona radiata extending into the parietal-occipital junction (p = 0.0002 uncorrected) Cognition: NA |
| Erickson et al. (2007) | 54 | 58—80 | 100 | T1 | 3 T | CRF |
WMV: ↑ CRF ~ WMV in prefrontal and genu of CC Cognition: ns |
| Gordon et al. (2008) |
20 young 40 old |
20 -28 60—81 |
50 57.5 |
T1 | 3 T | CRF |
WMV: ns Cognition: ↑ CRT predicted improved cognitive function |
| Colcombe et al. (2003) | 55 | 55—79 | 55.6 | T1 | 1.5 T | CRF |
WMV: ns Cognition: NA |
PA Physical activity; CRF Cardiorespiratory fitness. NA = not applicable (i.e. not assessed), WMV = white matter volume, WMH = white matter hyperintensity, WML = white matter lesion. Symbol “ ~ ” means association/ correlation. All p-values are corrected unless otherwise stated. Non-significant outcomes are denoted by “ns”. Footnotes: a) PA measured at baseline and after 25 years, but MRI only assessed at 25-year timepoint. b) individuals were divided into 3 categories of sedentary, light, and moderate-vigorous based on their PA