Buckles, Virginia

AbstractIntroductionLittle is known about effects of physical activity (PA) in genetically driven early‐onset autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease (AD).MethodsA total of 372 individuals participating at the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network study were examined to evaluate the cross‐sectional relationship of PA with cognitive performance, functional status, cognitive decline, and AD biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid. Mutation carriers were categorized as high or low exercisers according to WHO recommendations.ResultsMutation carriers with high PA showed significantly better cognitive and functional performance and significantly less AD‐like pathology in cerebrospinal fluid than individuals with low PA. Mutation carriers with high PA scored 3.4 points better on Mini Mental State Examination at expected symptom onset and fulfilled the diagnosis of very mild dementia 15.1 years later compared with low exercisers.DiscussionThese results support a beneficial effect of PA on cognition and AD pathology even in individuals with genetically driven autosomal dominant AD.

AbstractIntroductionThe objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between self‐reported exercise levels and Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarkers, in a cohort of autosomal dominant AD mutation carriers.MethodsIn 139 presymptomatic mutation carriers from the Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer Network, the relationship between self‐reported exercise levels and brain amyloid load, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aβ42, and CSF tau levels was evaluated using linear regression.ResultsNo differences in brain amyloid load, CSF Aβ42, or CSF tau were observed between low and high exercise groups. Nevertheless, when examining only those already accumulating AD pathology (i.e., amyloid positive), low exercisers had higher mean levels of brain amyloid than high exercisers. Furthermore, the interaction between exercise and estimated years from expected symptom onset was a significant predictor of brain amyloid levels.DiscussionOur findings indicate a relationship exists between self‐reported exercise levels and brain amyloid in autosomal dominant AD mutation carriers.