The DOI matches its Crossref record; 22 of the 22 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The association between aerobic fitness and executive function is mediated by prefrontal cortex volume
Open accessAbstract
Aging is marked by a decline in cognitive function, which is often preceded by losses in gray matter volume. Fortunately, higher cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) levels are associated with an attenuation of age-related losses in gray matter volume and a reduced risk for cognitive impairment. Despite these links, we have only a rudimentary understanding of whether fitness-related increases in gray matter volume lead to elevated cognitive function. In this cross-sectional study, we examined whether the association between higher aerobic fitness levels and elevated executive function was mediated by greater gray matter volume in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). One hundred and forty-two older adults (mean age = 66.6 years) completed structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, CRF assessments, and performed Stroop and spatial working memory (SPWM) tasks. Gray matter volume was assessed using an optimized voxel-based morphometry approach. Consistent with our predictions, higher fitness levels were associated with (a) better performance on both the Stroop and SPWM tasks, and (b) greater gray matter volume in several regions, including the dorsolateral PFC (DLPFC). Volume of the right inferior frontal gyrus and precentral gyrus mediated the relationship between CRF and Stroop interference while a non-overlapping set of regions bilaterally in the DLPFC mediated the association between CRF and SPWM accuracy. These results suggest that specific regions of the DLPFC differentially relate to inhibition and spatial working memory. Thus, fitness may influence cognitive function by reducing brain atrophy in targeted areas in healthy older adults.
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Cited by
Kandola, A., Ashdown-Franks, G., Hendrikse, J., Sabiston, C. M., & Stubbs, B. (2019) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.09.040 · Cited by 1,309
Physical activity, fitness, and gray matter volume
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Self-citationVoelcker-Rehage, C., & Niemann, C. (2013) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.01.028 · Cited by 433
Physical activity, brain, and cognition
Erickson, K. I., Hillman, C. H., & Kramer, A. F. (2015) · Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.1016/j.cobeha.2015.01.005 · Cited by 406
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Metadata
- Authors
- Weinstein, A. M., Voss, M. W., Prakash, R. S., Chaddock, L., Szabo, A., White, S. M., Wojcicki, T. R., Mailey, E., McAuley, E., Kramer, A. F., & Erickson, K. I.
- Venue
- Brain, Behavior, and Immunity
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2012-07
- Volume
- 26
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 811-819
- ISSN
- 0889-1591 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2058673101
- Cited by
- 335
- References
- 22
- FWCI
- 6.78
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
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- Weinstein, A. M., Voss, M. W., Prakash, R. S., Chaddock, L., Szabo, A., White, S. M., Wojcicki, T. R., Mailey, E., McAuley, E., Kramer, A. F., & Erickson, K. I. (2012). The association between aerobic fitness and executive function is mediated by prefrontal cortex volume. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2011.11.008
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