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Aerobic Fitness and the Brain: Increased N-Acetyl-Aspartate and Choline Concentrations in Endurance-Trained Middle-Aged Adults

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Abstract

Engagement in regular aerobic exercise is associated with cognitive benefits, but information on the mechanisms governing these changes in humans is limited. The goal of the current study was to compare neurometabolite concentrations relating to cellular metabolism, structure, and viability in endurance-trained and sedentary middle-aged adults. Twenty-eight endurance-trained and 27 sedentary adults, aged 40–65 years, underwent general health assessment, cardiorespiratory fitness measurement, neuropsychological testing, and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H MRS). 1H MRS was used to examine N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), creatine (Cr), myo-inositol (mI), choline (Cho), and glutamate (Glu) concentrations in frontal and occipitoparietal grey matter. Group differences in concentrations of NAA, Cho, mI, and Glu, calculated as ratios over Cr, were explored using ANOVA. There were no significant differences in global cognitive function, memory, and executive function performance between the groups. In comparison to sedentary adults, the endurance-trained group displayed significantly higher NAA/Cr in the frontal grey matter (F(1, 53) = 5.367, p = 0.024) and higher Cho/Cr in the occipitoparietal grey matter (F(1, 53) = 5.138, p = 0.028). Within our middle-aged sample, endurance-trained adults demonstrated higher levels of NAA/Cr in the frontal grey matter and higher Cho/Cr in the occipitoparietal grey matter. Higher levels of NAA may indicate greater neuronal integrity and higher cerebral metabolic efficiency in association with cardiorespiratory fitness, whereas increased Cho may represent increased phospholipid levels secondary to neural plasticity.

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Acknowledgments

This work was funded in part by grants from the American Heart Association (09BGIA2060722, APH), American Federation for Aging Research (8A0024, APH), the National Institutes of Health (NS075565, APH) and the University of Texas at Austin (APH). The authors thank the Imaging Center Staff for their help with the participants.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, 108 East Dean Keeton, Stop A8000, Austin, TX, 78712, USA

    Mitzi M. Gonzales, Sonya Kaur & Andreana P. Haley

  2. Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, The University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station, D3700, Austin, TX, 78712, USA

    Takashi Tarumi, Nantinee Nualnim, Bennett A. Fallow, Martha Pyron & Hirofumi Tanaka

  3. University of Texas Imaging Research Center, Austin, TX, USA

    Andreana P. Haley

  4. Medicine in Motion, 13805 Research Blvd, Ste 150, Austin, TX, 78750, USA

    Martha Pyron

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  1. Mitzi M. Gonzales
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Correspondence to Andreana P. Haley.

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Gonzales, M.M., Tarumi, T., Kaur, S. et al. Aerobic Fitness and the Brain: Increased N-Acetyl-Aspartate and Choline Concentrations in Endurance-Trained Middle-Aged Adults. Brain Topogr 26, 126–134 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10548-012-0248-8

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