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Lien, Ryu

University of British Columbia

Cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD), often presents with macro level white matter damage, such as white matter hyperintensities (WMH) on magnetic resonance imaging scans. However, cSVD may also have broader impacts beyond WMH, such as micro level white matter damage. Resistance training (RT) has been shown to slow down the progression of macro level white matter damage, such as WMH progression; however, its broader impact on micro level white matter, particularly white matter integrity, remains underexplored. Diffusion tensor imaging is a technique used to examine white matter integrity. Thus, my primary objective examined the effects of a 12-month RT on white matter integrity. My secondary objective examined the relationship between changes in white matter integrity and changes in global cognitive function. My tertiary objective examined if biological sex moderated the effects of RT on white matter integrity. Data was acquired from a 12-month randomized controlled trial. Ninety-one participants were randomly assigned to 1) twice-weekly RT (N=45) or 2) twice-weekly balance-and-toning (BAT; N=46). Measurements occurred at baseline and trial completion. Eighty-nine participants at baseline and 75 participants at 12 months completed DTI scans. White matter integrity was defined as four DTI metrics: fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity. Global cognitive function was measured using the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive-Plus. For my primary objective, I conducted an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). Covariates included baseline DTI metrics, WMH volume, age, and resting systolic blood pressure (SPB). For my secondary objective, I conducted partial correlation analyses, adjusted for baseline WMH volume, age, and resting SBP. For my tertiary objective, group by sex interactions were investigated in the ANCOVA model. My outcomes were corrected for multiple comparisons using Bonferroni adjustment [1]. Twelve months of RT did not significantly improve DTI metrics compared with BAT. No significant correlation between changes in DTI metrics and changes in global cognitive function were observed. Sex did not moderate the effect of RT on DTI metrics. Future research should explore the effects of RT on other neuroimaging markers and its relationship with cognitive function, as well as investigate potential sex differences in these effects.

Text

2024-07-22

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/88671

Rehabilitation Sciences

University of British Columbia

UBCV

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/