Associations Between Physical Activity, Blood-Based Biomarkers of Neurodegeneration, and Cognition in Healthy Older Adults: The MAPT Study
Authors: Raffin Jérémy , Rolland Yves , Aggarwal Geetika , Nguyen Andrew D , Morley John E , Li Yan , Bateman Randall J , Vellas Bruno , Barreto Philipe de Souto ,   MAPT/DSA Group, Vellas Bruno , Guyonnet Sophie , Carrié Isabelle , Brigitte Lauréane , Faisant Catherine , Lala Françoise , Delrieu Julien , Villars Hélène , Combrouze Emeline , Badufle Carole , Zueras Audrey , Andrieu Sandrine , Cantet Christelle , Morin Christophe , Van Kan Gabor Abellan , Dupuy Charlotte , Rolland Yves , Caillaud Céline , Ousset Pierre-Jean , Lala Françoise , Gilbert Brigitte , Fontaine Francine , Dartigues Jean-François , Marcet Isabelle , Delva Fleur , Foubert Alexandra , Cerda Sandrine , Costes Corinne , Rouaud Olivier , Manckoundia Patrick , Quipourt Valérie , Marilier Sophie , Franon Evelyne , Bories Lawrence , Pader Marie-Laure , Basset Marie-France , Lapoujade Bruno , Faure Valérie , Tong Michael Li Yung , Malick-Loiseau Christine , Cazaban-Campistron Evelyne , Desclaux Françoise , Blatge Colette , Dantoine Thierry , Laubarie-Mouret Cécile , Saulnier Isabelle , Clément Jean-Pierre , Picat Marie-Agnès , Bernard-Bourzeix Laurence , Willebois Stéphanie , Désormais Iléana , Cardinaud Noëlle , Bonnefoy Marc , Livet Pierre , Rebaudet Pascale , Gédéon Claire , Burdet Catherine , Terracol Flavien , Pesce Alain , Roth Stéphanie , Chaillou Sylvie , Louchart Sandrine , Sudres Kristel , Lebrun Nicolas , Barro-Belaygues Nadège , Touchon Jacques , Bennys Karim , Gabelle Audrey , Romano Aurélia , Touati Lynda , Marelli Cécilia , Pays Cécile , Robert Philippe , Le Duff Franck , Gervais Claire , Gonfrier Sébastien , Gasnier Yannick , Bordes Serge , Begorre Danièle , Carpuat Christian , Khales Khaled , Lefebvre Jean-François , El Idrissi Samira Misbah , Skolil Pierre , Salles Jean-Pierre , Dufouil Carole , Lehéricy Stéphane , Chupin Marie , Mangin Jean-François , Bouhayia Ali , Allard Michèle , Ricolfi Frédéric , Dubois Dominique , Martel Marie Paule Bonceour , Cotton François , Bonafé Alain , Chanalet Stéphane , Hugon Françoise , Bonneville Fabrice , Cognard Christophe , Chollet François , Payoux Pierre , Voisin Thierry , Delrieu Julien , Peiffer Sophie , Hitzel Anne , Allard Michèle , Zanca Michel , Monteil Jacques , Darcourt Jacques , Molinier Laurent , Derumeaux Hélène , Costa Nadège , Perret Bertrand , Vinel Claire , Caspar-Bauguil Sylvie , Olivier-Abbal Pascale , Andrieu Sandrine , Cantet Christelle , Coley Nicola 
Published: April 2021

Physical activity (PA) demonstrated benefits on brain health, but its relationship with blood biomarkers of neurodegeneration remains poorly investigated. We explored the cross-sectional associations of PA with blood concentrations of neurofilament light chain (NFL) and beta amyloid (Aβ)42/40. We further examined whether the interaction between PA and these biomarkers was longitudinally related to cognition. Four-hundred and sixty-five nondemented older adults engaged in an interventional study and who had a concomitant assessment of PA levels and blood measurements of NFL (pg/mL) and Aβ 42/40 were analyzed. A composite Z-score combining 4 cognitive tests was used for cognitive assessment up to a 4-year follow-up. Multiple linear regressions demonstrated that people achieving 500–999 and 2000+ MET-min/week of PA had lower (ln)NFL concentrations than their inactive peers. Logistic regressions revealed that achieving at least 90 MET-min/week of PA was associated with a lower probability of having high NFL concentrations (ie, ≥91.961 pg/mL [third quartile]). PA was not associated with (Aβ)42/40. Mixed-model linear regressions demonstrated that the reverse relationship between PA and cognitive decline tended to be more pronounced as Aβ 42/40 increased, while it was dampened with increasing levels of (ln)NFL concentrations. This study demonstrates that PA is associated with blood NFL but not with Aβ 42/40. Furthermore, it suggests that PA may attenuate the negative association between amyloid load and cognition, while having high NFL levels mitigates the favorable relationship between PA and cognition. More investigations on non demented older adults are required for further validation of the present findings.