Objective: In this study we set out to evaluate the effect of physical activity on cognition, fine motor movements and axial motor parameters in a prodromal high risk cohort for neurodegeneration.

Background: In most economically developed and in many developing countries the proportion of elderly increases. As Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) affect mostly older persons the prevalence of these diseases also increases, which will be a challenging situation for the healthcare systems in the future. Recent large population based studies provide evidence that at least in a proportion of the worldwide AD cases modifiable risk factors play a major role. Among these, physical inactivity has been found to be the major risk factor. Also for PD there are hints that physical activity may lead to a risk reduction. It is thus suggestive that physical activity is already important in the prodromal phase of neurodegenerative disorders. 

Methods: Out of the TREND study, 670 neurologically healthy individuals, aged between 50 and 80 years, were included in this analysis. Participants were stratified by their physical activity (0=no activity, 1= less than 1h per week, 2= 1-2h per week, 3= 2-4 hours per week, 4= more than 4 hours per week). Prodromal markers (depression and REM sleep behaviour disorder) as well as quantitative fine motor movements, axial motor and cognitive parameters were compared between the groups.

Results: Physical activity (groups 1-4 together) is associated with lower BDI scores (6 vs. 10; p<0.001), lower occurrence of depression (26% vs. 40%; p=0.002) and RBD (15% vs. 25%; p= 0.012) compared to physical inactivity. Further, physical active participants were faster in the cognitive tasks (TMT-A; TMT-B, ΔTMT-B-A and subtracting) and axial motor parameters (single tasks and dual tasks). We also found a dosage dependent effect of physical activity between the groups 1 to 4 on all above mentioned markers. There was no effect of physical activity on MMSE, fine motor movements or dual task costs.

Conclusions: We found that physical activity has a positive effect on several prodromal markers for neurodegeneration. Longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate marker progression and possible onset of clinical symptoms of one of the neurodegenerative disorders in relation to physical activity.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/analyses-of-physical-activity-on-cognitive-flexibility-depression-and-rbd-in-healthy-elderly-with-high-risk-for-neurodegenerative-diseases/