The bidirectional relationship between brain structure and physical activity: A longitudinal analysis in the UK Biobank

Abstract

Physical activity is a protective factor against brain atrophy, while loss of brain volume could also be a determinant of physical activity. Therefore, we aimed to explore the bidirectional association of physical activity with brain structures in middle-aged and older adults from the UK Biobank. Overall, 3027 participants (62.45 ± 7.27 years old, 51.3% females) had data at two time points. Hippocampal volume was associated with total (β=0.048, p_FDR=0.016) and household (β=0.075, p_FDR<0.001) physical activity. Global fractional anisotropy (β=0.042, p_FDR=0.028) was also associated with household physical activity. In the opposite direction, walking was negatively associated with white matter volume (β=-0.026, p_FDR=0.008). All these associations were confirmed by the linear mixed models. Interestingly, sports at baseline were linked to hippocampal and frontal cortex volumes at follow-up but these associations disappeared after adjusting for multiple comparisons (p_all>0.104). In conclusion, we found more consistent evidence that a healthier brain structure predicted higher physical activity levels than for the inverse, more established relationship.