This study assessed the cross-sectional association between self-reported physical activity (PA) with baseline cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), cognitive testing with The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and brain volumetric data.

PA and high CRF are associated with lower risk of cerebrovascular disease and dementia. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) website lists “lack of PA” as the top modifiable risk factor for dementia, along with uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking and alcohol use.

The Dallas Heart Study (DHS) is a longitudinal cohort sample of Dallas County residents with intentional overrepresentation of non-white participants. In the second phase (DHSII), each participant completed a comprehensive medical history, MESA self-reported physical activity (MESA) questionnaire and underwent health examination involving vital signs, blood and urine collection, assessment of CRF via submaximal treadmill testing, and cognitive testing (MoCA). A subsample also underwent brain MRI (n=1613). Participants were excluded from this analysis if they did not complete MoCA or MESA, had history of dementia, stroke, claudication or exercise intolerance. They were stratified by self-reported level of PA into 3 groups: those meeting 150+ minutes of moderate PA/week (Moderate), meeting at least 75+ minutes of vigorous PA/week (Vigorous), and those meeting neither recommendation (Reference).

Included were 2607 DHS participants with mean age of 49 (±11) years, 60% female, 51% Black, and 14% Hispanic ethnicity. Compared to Reference, participants in the Vigorous group had higher MoCA scores (p=0.0461), stronger baseline CRF (p<0.0001), lower volume of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) (p=0.0491), and larger gray matter volume (GMV) (p=0.0500). The only significant difference observed in the Moderate group was stronger CRF (p=0.0200).  

In this population-based study, self-reported PA positively correlated with baseline CRF and brain volume. Engaging in vigorous PA, but not moderate, showed a statistical difference on baseline MoCA scores.