Association of Physical Activity with Structural Brain Imaging

In this prospective study, researchers analyzed whether mid- or late-life leisure-time physical activity was associated with findings on brain MRI in 1604 participants (aged 45 to 64 at baseline; mean age, 54 years 55% female; 27% Black) from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. From validated questionnaire data at baseline and 25 years later, the researchers extrapolated participants' moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), categorized as none (0 min/week), low (1–74 min/week), middle (75–149 min/week), or high (≥150 min/week). MRI outcomes included cerebrovascular lesions, white-matter hyperintensities, white-matter integrity, and gray-matter volumes.

Participants' MVPA levels were 34% none, 11% low, 16% middle, and 39% hi…