Kirk I. Erickson

Background: University transition is often accompanied by psychological strain and lifestyle changes that may increase vulnerability to mental health and cognitive difficulties. Randomized evidence examining exercise-based, mindfulness-based, and movement-based mind–body interventions within one study remains limited. This study examined psychological and cognitive outcomes across three online interventions in university students. Methods: In this three-arm randomized controlled trial, 53 university students aged 18–25 years were randomly allocated to 12 weeks of high-intensity functional training (HIFT; n = 17), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR; n = 18), or Qigong (QG; n = 18). Primary outcomes were the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21) total score and cognitive composite scores for attention–processing speed, executive function, and memory. Secondary outcomes included mindfulness, self-esteem, physical activity, sleep quality, Mediterranean diet adherence, heart rate variability, and physical fitness. Linear mixed-effects models tested time-by-group interactions. Adherence, safety, and recruitment barriers were examined descriptively. Results: No clear between-group differences were detected in psychological distress or cognitive function. Overall intervention adherence was 83%. Memory and self-esteem improved within all three groups. The Observing mindfulness subscale showed a nominal time-by-group interaction, with a greater increase in MBSR than HIFT. Improvements in sleep quality were associated with reductions in psychological distress. Limited schedule availability was the most frequently recorded recruitment barrier. Conclusions: Psychological and cognitive outcomes showed broadly similar patterns across HIFT, MBSR, and QG. Shared within-group improvements and selected mindfulness-related signals warrant further investigation. Recruitment challenges highlight the value of flexible delivery in future university-based trials.

Background: Cognitive decline is common among individuals with breast cancer (BC), and carriage of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele increases risk. APOE DNA methylation (DNAm) may influence cognition through regulation of neuroinflammatory and amyloid‐related pathways. Exercise is a potential factor affecting DNAm and cognition. This study examined associations between APOE DNAm and cognition in postmenopausal women with BC and evaluated moderation by APOE4 carriage status and exercise. Methods: Data were drawn from a 6‐month randomized trial of moderate‐intensity exercise versus usual care. Cognition was assessed at baseline and 6 months, and change scores were calculated. APOE4 status (carrier, non‐carrier) and baseline DNAm (M‐value) were determined from peripheral blood. Regression models tested cross‐sectional and longitudinal associations, adjusting for age and education. Moderation by APOE4 status and intervention group was also tested. Results: Among 102 participants, APOE DNAm was consistently suggestively associated with cognition. Higher DNAm at promoter‐region CpGs (cg04406254, cg14123992, cg20051876) was linked to poorer cognition, with direction and magnitude differing by APOE4 status and group. APOE4 carriers with higher DNAm showed better cognitive performance, and exercisers with higher DNAm showed improved outcomes, suggesting exercise may buffer epigenetic effects. Conclusions: Findings may implicate APOE DNAm as a biomarker of cognition and highlight exercise supporting cognitive health in women with BC, although replication is needed.

INTRODUCTION: Subjective cognitive concerns frequently diverge from objective cognitive performance in cognitively unimpaired (CU) older adults, yet the neurobiological basis of this mismatch remains unclear. METHODS: In 648 participants from the Investigating Gains in Neurocognition in an Intervention Trial of Exercise (IGNITE), we defined four profiles by integrating subjective and objective cognitive status. We examined associations with plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL), phosphorylated tau 217 (p‐tau217), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a magnetic resonance imaging–based volumetric Alzheimer's disease (AD) signature reflecting atrophy, and brain‐predicted age difference (brain‐PAD). RESULTS: Joint profiles were differentially associated with NfL ( P =  0.0427) and brain‐PAD ( P =  0.0296). Follow‐up contrasts further indicated higher NfL and lower volumetric AD signature in the concordant lower functioning profile, and higher brain‐PAD in discordant profiles. p‐tau217 and GFAP did not differ across profiles. DISCUSSION: Joint subjective–objective cognitive profiles may capture biologically meaningful heterogeneity relevant to neurodegeneration and brain aging in older adults. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02875301

Background: Physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep are three behaviours which occupy the 24-h cycle and interact to influence a multitude of health outcomes. Different terms are currently used to describe these behaviours collectively (e.g., movement behaviours or physical behaviours ). The lack of clear and consistent terminology makes it hard to compare, interpret, and build on research findings. As a first step towards developing consensus on what terminology to use for discussing the 24-h cycle of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep, we conducted a scoping review to identify the breadth of terminology used to describe this phenomenon. Methods: All searches occurred between September 18th – 20th 2024. We searched nine databases: Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Web of Science, Scopus, ERIC, Education Source, and Compendex from inception to September 18th 2024. The Journal of Activity, Sedentary and Sleep Behaviors and the International Network of Time-Use Epidemiologists (INTUE) publication lists were manually searched on September 19th – 20th 2024. Peer-reviewed articles were included if they 1) were published in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Chinese, Korean, or Japanese; 2) focused on humans; and 3) describe physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep in an integrated manner. We identified different terminologies used for collectively discussing physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep across the 24-h cycle. Results: Our search identified 10,749 articles of which 979 articles met our inclusion criteria. Across all articles, 199 different terms were used to describe physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep collectively. The term movement behaviours was used in 673 articles, 24-h movement behaviours was used in 457 articles, physical behaviours was used in 58 articles, 24-h activity cycle was used in 36 articles, and time-use behaviours was used in 31 articles. Conclusions: The two most popular terms for describing the collective interaction of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep are movement behaviours and 24-h movement behaviours . However, there is not yet an internationally recognized and agreed-upon term for holistically describing the 24-h cycle of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep. Developing a homogeneous and widely accepted set of terminology and definitions is thus critical if we hope to ensure clarity, enhance reproducibility, and enable the translation of future research into coherent guidelines, policies, and practices for these behaviours.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) increases the risk of cognitive impairment, dementia, and brain structural alterations. This heart-brain connection suggests that exercise-induced cardiovascular responses may influence brain regions vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common cause of dementia. This study aimed to examine the effects of 12-weeks of either high-intensity interval training (HIIT) plus resistance training (RT) or HIIT alone on AD brain signatures in individuals with CAD, to explore moderating factors, and to assess associations between changes in AD brain signatures and cognition and physical fitness. Methods: This secondary analysis of a single-site, three-arm, single-blinded randomized controlled trial included 105 individuals with CAD (50-75 years; 21% female) randomly allocated to HIIT+RT, HIIT, or usual care (UC) groups. T1- and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging were acquired before and after the 12-week intervention. Primary outcomes were thickness/volume and gray matter mean diffusivity (GMMD) signatures, derived from seven cortical regions and the hippocampus. Moderators included age, sex, education, and baseline AD brain signatures. Results: For the thickness/volume signature, no between-group differences in changes were observed between HIIT+RT and UC (+0.13 standardized mean difference [SMD]; 95% CI, -0.07 to 0.33) or between HIIT and UC (-0.1 SMD; 95% CI, -0.3 to 0.1); however, a small but significant between-group difference in change was found between HIIT+RT and HIIT, in favor of HIIT+RT (+0.23 SMD; 95% CI, 0.03 to 0.42). For the GMMD signature, no significant between-group differences in changes were found between HIIT+RT and UC (+0.08 SMD; 95% CI, -0.18 to 0.34), HIIT and UC (+0.1 SMD; 95% CI, -0.16 to 0.36), or HIIT+RT and HIIT (-0.02 SMD; 95% CI, -0.28 to 0.23). No moderation effects were identified, and no associations were observed between changes in AD brain signatures and cognition or physical fitness. Conclusion: A 12-week HIIT+RT intervention was more effective than HIIT alone in increasing the thickness/volume signature in individuals with CAD, yet no differences were observed compared to UC and the interventions did not affect the GMMD signature. These findings suggest that the intra-session inclusion of RT with HIIT may enhance AD-related brain macrostructure in individuals with CAD more than just HIIT training.

Background: Brain imaging markers may help detect early cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Although exercise-related effects on AD-specific brain signatures remain unclear. Objective: To examine the effects of a 24-week resistance exercise (RE) program on AD brain signatures in cognitively unimpaired older adults, to explore potential moderators and to assess associations with cognition, including mediation effects. Methods: This secondary analysis of a single-site, two-arm, single-blinded randomized controlled trial included 90 participants (72 ± 4 years; 58% female) randomly assigned by a blind external researcher to an RE group (3 sessions/week, 60 min/session, n = 46) or a wait-list control group (CG, n = 44). T1- and diffusion-weighted MRI were acquired at baseline and post-intervention. Primary outcomes were thickness/volume and grey matter mean diffusivity (GMMD) signatures, derived from cortical and hippocampal regions. Moderators included age, sex, education, multimorbidity, apolipoprotein E ϵ4 status, amyloid beta (Aβ) status and baseline AD brain signatures. Secondary outcomes included cognitive function. Outcome measures and analyses were conducted by staff blinded to intervention assignment. Results: Compared with the CG, the RE group showed a reduction in the thickness/volume signature (−0.23 standardized mean difference [SMD]; 95% CI, −0.43 to −0.02), but no effect on the GMMD signature (0.08 SMD; 95% CI, −0.13 to 0.29). Aβ-status moderated the effect, as Aβ-positive participants in the RE group showed a larger reduction in the thickness/volume signature than those in the CG (−0.64 SMD; 95% CI, −1.09 to −0.18), whereas no effect was observed in Aβ-negative participants. Thickness/volume and GMMD reductions were associated with improvements in executive function and attentional/inhibitory control, respectively. Changes in AD signatures did not mediate cognitive outcomes. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that reductions in the macrostructural AD signature following a 24-week RE program may reflect adaptive, rather than detrimental, brain changes, particularly in Aβ-positive older adults, as these changes were associated with improved executive function. Trial registration: Registered on Clinicaltrials.gov (Identifier: NCT05186090).