As people age, their cardiorespiratory fitness begins to decline, which can negatively affect brain health. This decline in fitness is related to a reduced ability for the heart to pump blood effectively due to stiffening of the arteries, which may be partly a result of the buildup of fats and other substances in the blood vessels. This arterial stiffness can slow down blood flow to the brain and is linked to damage in the brain’s white matter, which helps brain cells communicate across different brain regions. It can also lead to an accumulation of harmful proteins and other waste products in the brain, which are commonly associated with cognitive decline and dementia.
Interestingly, maintaining a good level of cardiorespiratory fitness through regular exercise can help keep adequate blood flow to the brain, support the brain’s internal structures, and maintain cognitive functions like memory and attention with aging. Despite this, there has been little research on how exercise intensity might influence the progression of cognitive decline through its effects on arterial stiffness and the buildup of brain waste products in older adults.
The goal of the proposed study is to understand better how exercise intensity and cardiorespiratory fitness might impact arterial stiffness and the buildup of waste products in the brain and in turn, influence cognitive decline. Understanding this complex relationship could lead to better healthcare recommendations to improve brain function in older adults. By examining how exercise affects arterial stiffness and brain waste products, researchers hope to find the best level of exercise to maintain brain health and prevent dementia in aging individuals.
