MbShea@PWP@English@UMCP

Abstract: Decreases in several aspects of cognitive function are a hallmark of normal aging, with more significant and devastating declines occurring beyond age 60. A wealth of research has been conducted on the benefits of exercise and physical activity on cognition and aging, showing that exercise and physical activity may slow the progression of cognitive decline associated with both normal aging and with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. BOLD fMRI of a semantic memory task has made a strong case for acting as a presymptomatic biomarker for future cognitive decline. Despite our knowledge of the promising benefits of chronic exercise training, little research has examined the effects of acute exercise (a single session of exercise) on cognition in older adults. The proposed project will utilize BOLD fMRI to look at the effects of an acute bout of exercise on semantic memory task activation in elders. There is an assumption that the effects of single sessions of exercise accumulate to promote brain health and maintain cognitive function. Determining the effects of acute exercise on cognitive performance could improve our understanding of the mechanisms by which exercise slows decline and improves cognitive function in the elderly, while also providing further insight into how chronic exercise training benefits cognition.

Difficult Reader: I imagine a reader who is skeptical of the effect size of preventative health care such as exercise, believing the benefits are “overhyped” and that money is better put towards reactive treatments such as drugs.

Difficult reader: Why does it matter if we know more about acute exercise if we already know that chronic exercise is beneficial? Also, how beneficial is exercise? Will it have to go along with medication, if so why bother with it?

D, you can address that reader by noting that most people need a set of treatments, for optimal outcomes. Also, because of variable patient disease states AND variable responses to treatments, again, more than one treatment activity is part of an evidence-based treatment plan. Does that help?