Klimecki Olga M, Liebscher Maxie, Gaubert Malo, Hayek Dayana, Zarucha Alexis, Dyrba Martin, Bartels Claudia, Buerger Katharina, Butryn Michaela, Dechent Peter, Dobisch Laura, Ewers Michael, Fliessbach Klaus, Freiesleben Silka Dawn, Glanz Wenzel, Hetzer Stefan, Janowitz Daniel, Kilimann Ingo, Kleineidam Luca, Laske Christoph, Maier Franziska, Munk Matthias H, Perneczky Robert, Peters Oliver, Priller Josef, Rauchmann Boris-Stephan, Roy Nina, Scheffler Klaus, Schneider Anja, Spruth Eike Jakob, Spottke Annika, Teipel Stefan J, Wiltfang Jens, Wolfsgruber Steffen, Yakupov Renat, Düzel Emrah, Jessen Frank, Wagner Michael, Roeske Sandra, Wirth Miranka
German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany.
Department of Neuroradiology, Rennes University Hospital Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU), Rennes, France.
Front Aging Neurosci. 2023 Aug 28;15:1170879. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1170879. eCollection 2023.
Sustained environmental enrichment (EE) through a variety of leisure activities may decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. This cross-sectional cohort study investigated the association between long-term EE in young adulthood through middle life and microstructure of fiber tracts associated with the memory system in older adults.
= 201 cognitively unimpaired participants (≥ 60 years of age) from the DZNE-Longitudinal Cognitive Impairment and Dementia Study (DELCODE) baseline cohort were included. Two groups of participants with higher ( = 104) or lower ( = 97) long-term EE were identified, using the self-reported frequency of diverse physical, intellectual, and social leisure activities between the ages 13 to 65. White matter (WM) microstructure was measured by fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) in the fornix, uncinate fasciculus, and parahippocampal cingulum using diffusion tensor imaging. Long-term EE groups (lower/higher) were compared with adjustment for potential confounders, such as education, crystallized intelligence, and socio-economic status.
Reported participation in higher long-term EE was associated with greater fornix microstructure, as indicated by higher FA (standardized β = 0.117, = 0.033) and lower MD (β = -0.147, = 0.015). Greater fornix microstructure was indirectly associated (FA: unstandardized = 0.619, = 0.038; MD: = -0.035, = 0.026) with better memory function through higher long-term EE. No significant effects were found for the other WM tracts.
Our findings suggest that sustained participation in a greater variety of leisure activities relates to preserved WM microstructure in the memory system in older adults. This could be facilitated by the multimodal stimulation associated with the engagement in a physically, intellectually, and socially enriched lifestyle. Longitudinal studies will be needed to support this assumption.
通过各种休闲活动持续进行环境富集（EE）可能会降低患阿尔茨海默病的风险。这项横断面队列研究调查了从青年期到中年期的长期EE与老年人记忆系统相关纤维束微观结构之间的关联。
纳入了来自德国神经退行性疾病中心纵向认知障碍与痴呆研究（DELCODE）基线队列的201名认知未受损参与者（≥60岁）。根据13至65岁期间自我报告的各种体育、智力和社会休闲活动频率，确定了两组长期EE较高（n = 104）或较低（n = 97）的参与者。使用扩散张量成像测量穹窿、钩束和海马旁扣带中的白质（WM）微观结构，用分数各向异性（FA）和平均扩散率（MD）表示。对长期EE组（低/高）进行比较，并对潜在混杂因素进行调整，如教育程度、晶体智力和社会经济地位。
报告显示参与更高水平的长期EE与更大的穹窿微观结构相关，表现为更高的FA（标准化β = 0.117，P = 0.033）和更低的MD（β = -0.147，P = 0.015）。通过更高的长期EE，更大的穹窿微观结构与更好的记忆功能间接相关（FA：非标准化β = 0.619，P = 0.038；MD：β = -0.035，P = 0.026）。在其他WM束中未发现显著影响。
我们的研究结果表明，持续参与更多样化的休闲活动与老年人记忆系统中保留的WM微观结构有关。参与丰富的身体、智力和社会生活方式所带来的多模式刺激可能有助于实现这一点。需要进行纵向研究来支持这一假设。
