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Physical Activity and Working Memory in Multiple Sclerosis: An Investigation of Neuropsychological and NeuroImaging Associations

Year: 2017
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system known to impact working memory (WM) processing with functional ramifications for broader cognitive performance.Physical activity (PA) is associated with improved WM in similarly impaired populations, but a link between PA and WM processing is not yet defined in MS.In the current study, we aimed to define the relationship between behavioral and neural indices of WM and PA in MS, with emphasis on modularity as a mediator in the WM -PA relationship.In service of these aims, we recruited 44 individuals with relapsing-remitting MS.WM was assessed inside and outside the scanner using PASAT and visual PASAT analog along with resting-state fMRI.PA was assessed via accelerometer over 7 days.The resulting PASAT -PA relationship was not directly significant, but indirectly mediated by mental manipulation for individuals with lower disease severity.PA was further associated with left hemispheric activation in WM regions indicative of less disease progression.Right middle frontal gyrus activation was associated with poorer WM performance.Modularity was both positively related to PA and negatively related to disease severity, but not a significant mediator in either relationship.In conclusion, correlational results support an indirect relationship between WM and PA.Future directions would examine integration and resilience as potential biomarkers of the WM -PA relationship in addition to examining the causal impact of increased PA on WM and broader cognition for individuals with MS. iii Dedication For my boys, Joe, Jeremy, and Jeff.You taught me I am never too battered or bruised to pick up and start again
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2797271505
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