INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 08 Program Schedule 02/16/2024 01:45 pm - 03:00 pm Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60) Poster Session 08: Cognition \| Cognitive Reserve Variables Final Abstract #14 Activity Level, Genetic Status, and Processing Speed in Middle-Aged Adults Sam Collins, University of Maine, Orono, United States Lindsey Lagerstrom, University of Maine, Orono, United States Fayeza Ahmed, University of Maine, Orono, United States Category: Dementia (Alzheimer's Disease) Keyword 1: apolipoprotein E Keyword 2: aging (normal) Objective: Physical activity (PA) is a well-established modifiable risk factor for dementias, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In clinical and non-clinical samples, increasing PA has been associated with better performance on measures of processing speed, even in healthy middle-aged adults1. While PA is beneficial for everyone, those who are at increased risk for AD may benefit more from early intervention, such as during middle age. The Apolipoprotein e4 (APOE e4) gene increases risk for developing late-onset AD (LOAD), the most common type of AD and is a target population for early intervention. Methylenetetrahydrofolate (MTHFR C677T mutation), a well-established risk allele of cardiovascular disease through higher levels of homocysteine, and may confer additional risk for AD3. Healthy middle-aged adults who have genetic risk factors for AD, such as MTHFR C677T and/or APOE e4, can benefit more from PA than non-carriers. This study aimed to study healthy middle-aged adult individuals to determine whether an association between PA level and processing speed exists and the degree to which it may be moderated by genetic status. Participants and Methods: This study is part of preliminary analyses from a larger, ongoing project at the Maine Health, Aging, and Lifestyle (HAL) Lab at the University of Maine. Forty-eight healthy middle-aged community participants were recruited from the community. Using the 2011 Compendium of Physical Activities, participants were categorized into light, moderate, or vigorous activity levels based on self report. Processing speed was captured through a Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT)- oral version score. Normative data for the SDMT - oral version originated from a recent study. Results: The current sample contains APOE genotypes: e2/e3 (n = 1), e2/e4 (n=2), e3/e3 (n=11), e3/e4 (n=9), and e4/e4 (n=1); and MTHFR genotypes: C/C (n=10), T/T (n=4), and C/T (n=10). Overall, the sample contains 10 participants with at least one copy of the higher risk e4 allele for their APOE genotype and 14 participants who had at least one copy of the higher risk T allele for their MTHFR genotype. Correlation analyses revealed no significant relationship between PA and processing speed (r = -.031, p = .885) nor processing speed and genetic status (APOE Genotype (r = .200, p = .350); MTHFR Genotype (r = .026, p = .905)). Notably, however, data is continuing to be collected and these relationships will be examined further with additional data. Conclusions: Results from this preliminary analysis indicated there were no significant correlations between activity, genetic status, and SDMT performance. However, due to theoretical rationale, examining cognitive changes among middle-aged adults will continue to be important, as it will provide opportunities for early intervention and/or prevention for AD through modification of cardiovascular risk factors. This study has a number of limitations. The sample was all White, mostly women, with no cardiovascular risk factors. It is also worth noting that this study only captured self-reported exercise minutes, which may have over- or underestimated activity. Most participants reported being active, further restricting variability. Nevertheless, middle-age is a critical time for increasing PA for adults who have genetic risk factors for AD, such as a mutation of the MTHFR gene and/or APOE e4, and may benefit more than non-carriers.

Poster

02/16/2024
01:45 pm - 03:00 pm
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)

Poster Session 08: Cognition | Cognitive Reserve Variables

Final Abstract #14

Activity Level, Genetic Status, and Processing Speed in Middle-Aged Adults

Sam Collins, University of Maine, Orono, United States
Lindsey Lagerstrom, University of Maine, Orono, United States
Fayeza Ahmed, University of Maine, Orono, United States

Category: Dementia (Alzheimer's Disease)

Keyword 1: apolipoprotein E
Keyword 2: aging (normal)

Objective:

Physical activity (PA) is a well-established modifiable risk factor for dementias, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In clinical and non-clinical samples, increasing PA has been associated with better performance on measures of processing speed, even in healthy middle-aged adults1. While PA is beneficial for everyone, those who are at increased risk for AD may benefit more from early intervention, such as during middle age. The Apolipoprotein e4 (APOE e4) gene increases risk for developing late-onset AD (LOAD), the most common type of AD and is a target population for early intervention. Methylenetetrahydrofolate (MTHFR C677T mutation), a well-established risk allele of cardiovascular disease through higher levels of homocysteine, and may confer additional risk for AD3. Healthy middle-aged adults who have genetic risk factors for AD, such as MTHFR C677T and/or APOE e4, can benefit more from PA than non-carriers. This study aimed to study healthy middle-aged adult individuals to determine whether an association between PA level and processing speed exists and the degree to which it may be moderated by genetic status.

Participants and Methods:

This study is part of preliminary analyses from a larger, ongoing project at the Maine Health, Aging, and Lifestyle (HAL) Lab at the University of Maine. Forty-eight healthy middle-aged community participants were recruited from the community. Using the 2011 Compendium of Physical Activities, participants were categorized into light, moderate, or vigorous activity levels based on self report. Processing speed was captured through a Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT)- oral version score. Normative data for the SDMT - oral version originated from a recent study.

Results:

The current sample contains APOE genotypes: e2/e3 (n = 1), e2/e4 (n=2), e3/e3 (n=11), e3/e4 (n=9), and e4/e4 (n=1); and MTHFR genotypes: C/C (n=10), T/T (n=4), and C/T (n=10). Overall, the sample contains 10 participants with at least one copy of the higher risk e4 allele for their APOE genotype and 14 participants who had at least one copy of the higher risk T allele for their MTHFR genotype.

Correlation analyses revealed no significant relationship between PA and processing speed (r = -.031, p = .885) nor processing speed and genetic status (APOE Genotype (r = .200, p = .350); MTHFR Genotype (r = .026, p = .905)). Notably, however, data is continuing to be collected and these relationships will be examined further with additional data.

Conclusions:

Results from this preliminary analysis indicated there were no significant correlations between activity, genetic status, and SDMT performance. However, due to theoretical rationale, examining cognitive changes among middle-aged adults will continue to be important, as it will provide opportunities for early intervention and/or prevention for AD through modification of cardiovascular risk factors. This study has a number of limitations. The sample was all White, mostly women, with no cardiovascular risk factors. It is also worth noting that this study only captured self-reported exercise minutes, which may have over- or underestimated activity. Most participants reported being active, further restricting variability. Nevertheless, middle-age is a critical time for increasing PA for adults who have genetic risk factors for AD, such as a mutation of the MTHFR gene and/or APOE e4, and may benefit more than non-carriers.