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Abstract

Subcortical ischemic vascular cognitive impairment (SIVCI), caused by cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), is the most common form of vascular cognitive impairment. SIVCI is associated with reduced brain volumes, including the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC). Resistance training (RT) is a promising intervention for SIVCI as it can slow the progression of white matter hyperintensities. However, whether RT can benefit regional brain volumes in SIVCI has not been explored. Therefore, the primary objective of this thesis was to examine the effects of a 12-month progressive RT program on hippocampal and PFC volumes in older adults with SIVCI. Secondary objectives were to determine whether changes in hippocampus and PFC volumes are associated with changes in cognition (i.e., global cognition, memory and executive function). This was an analysis of secondary outcome measures from a randomized controlled trial amongst 89 adults aged ≥55 years with SIVCI defined as: 1) a Montreal Cognitive Assessment score of