Investigating the role of lifetime physical activity on brain health in people with multiple sclerosis: Evidence from magnetic resonance and diffusion imaging

Negaresh, Raoof; Gharakhanlou, Reza; Sahraeian, Mohammad Ali; Abolhassani, Maryam; Motl, Robert

doi:10.48308/joeppa.2025.239108.1344

Investigating the role of lifetime physical activity on brain health in people with multiple sclerosis: Evidence from magnetic resonance and diffusion imaging

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Physical education, Farhangian University, P.O. Box 14665-889, Tehran, Iran

² Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

³ Multiple Sclerosis Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

⁴ Department of Kinesiology and Nutrition, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA

10.48308/joeppa.2025.239108.1344

Abstract

and Purpose: Lifestyle is one of the most important factors affecting human health. Lifetime physical activity can be one of the most important components of lifestyle that is beneficial for brain health in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of the current study was to investigate the role and relationship of current and lifetime physical activity in people with MS with the volume and markers of myelin and axon loss in the hippocampus, thalamus, corpus callosum, and amygdala.
Methods & Materials: In this study, 60 individuals with MS (66% female, 77% relapsing-remitting MS) with a mean age of 37.3±9.3 years and a disability index of 2.2±1.1 participated. Whole brain volume and regions of interest were assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and myelin and axonal loss parameters were assessed by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). In DTI imaging, fractional anisotropy (FA, an indicator of axonal loss) and mean diffusion (MD, an indicator of myelin loss) were assessed. Current and lifetime physical activity were measured using an accelerometer and an adapted version of the Activity History Questionnaire, respectively. Moreover, Pearson correlation and partial correlation coefficients were used to estimate the relationship of physical activity parameters with MRI and DTI markers.
Results: The brain, hippocampus and corpus callosum volume of participants who were physically active more than 4 hours/week (high active participants) was significantly greater compared to other participants (p < 0.05). Moreover, the FA parameter was significantly higher in the hippocampus and corpus callosum of active participants (p < 0.05), while the MD parameter was significantly higher only in the corpus callosum of sedentary participants (p < 0.05). There was a significant positive correlation between lifetime total energy expenditure and brain (r = 0.29), thalamus (r = 0.37), hippocampus (r = 0.73) and corpus callosum volume (r = 0.69) (p < 0.05). Higher lifetime total energy expenditure was associated with improved markers of myelin and axonal loss in the hippocampus and corpus callosum (p < 0.05). Current moderate to vigorous physical activity was positively and significantly associated with thalamus (r = 0.37), hippocampus (r = 0.39), corpus callosum volume (r = 0.45) and markers of axonal loss in the corpus callosum (r = 0.75) (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: The current study provides new evidence for the positive association between physical activity and brain volume and the prevention of myelin and axonal loss in people with MS. The present findings support apply of physical activity more than 4 hours/week at various intensities, especially moderate to vigorous intensity, to improve brain health in people with MS as a disease-modifying treatment.

Keywords

Main Subjects