Journal article
Physical activity, aerobic fitness, and AD blood biomarkers: The IGNITE study
Alzheimer's & dementia, Vol.22(5), e71484
2026
PMID: 42151104
Abstract
Introduction
Physical activity (PA) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are associated with reduced risk of cognitive decline and dementia, yet their relationships with dementia-related pathophysiology remain unclear. In a community-dwelling older adult cohort, we examined associations between objectively measured PA, CRF, biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related pathology, and cognition.
Methods
Participants (n = 648, 71% female, age 69.88 ± 3.75) completed a comprehensive cognitive evaluation, objective assessments of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and CRF (VO2peak), and AD-related brain (positron emission tomography [PET] amyloid beta [Aβ]) and blood biomarkers (Aβ1–42/1–40, phosphorylated tau [p-tau]217, p-tau181, glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP], neurofilament light chain [NfL]).
Results
Greater MVPA (β = −0.107; p = 0.013) and CRF (β = −0.114; p = 0.027) were associated with lower NfL, but not Aβ PET, p-tau217, Aβ1–42/1–40, or GFAP. Aβ positivity moderated the CRF–NfL relationship, with higher CRF linked to lower NfL specifically among Aβ-positive individuals. NfL mediated relationships between MVPA, CRF, and cognitive performance in select domains.
Discussion
Neuroprotective benefits of PA may be conferred through mechanisms influencing neurodegeneration, particularly among those with emerging AD pathology.
Highlights
∙ Greater objectively measured physical activity was associated with lower neurofila-ment light chain (NfL) levels.
∙ Physical activity was unrelated to biomarkers of core Alzheimer’s disease pathology(amyloid beta [Aβ] positron emission tomography, phosphorylated tau 217).
∙ NfL mediated associations between physical activity and cognition in select domains.
∙ Similar patterns were found for cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), a physiologicalmeasure of aerobic fitness.
∙ Higher CRF was related to lower NfL specifically among Aβ–positive individuals.
Details
- Title
- Physical activity, aerobic fitness, and AD blood biomarkers: The IGNITE study
- Authors/Creators
- Lauren E Oberlin - Cornell UniversityPatricio Solis-Urra - Universidad Andrés BelloKelsey R Sewell - Murdoch UniversityAudrey M Collins - Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and DiabetesChaeryon Kang - University of PittsburghHaiqing Huang - Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and DiabetesGeorge Grove - University of PittsburghLu Wan - Translational Research Institute for Metabolism and DiabetesArthur F Kramer - University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignEdward McAuley - University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignJeffrey M Burns - University of Kansas Medical CenterCharles H Hillman - Northeastern UniversityEric D Vidoni - University of Kansas Medical CenterAnna L Marsland - University of PittsburghM Ilyas Kamboh - University of PittsburghAmanda Szabo-Reed - University of Kansas Medical CenterRenee J Rogers - University of Kansas Medical CenterJill Morris - University of Kansas Medical CenterXuemei Zeng - University of PittsburghThomas K Karikari - University of PittsburghJohn M Jakicic - University of Kansas Medical CenterKirk I Erickson - AdventHealth Orlando
- Publication Details
- Alzheimer's & dementia, Vol.22(5), e71484
- Publisher
- WILEY
- Number of pages
- 13
- Grant note
- R35AG072307 / NIA NIH HHS K23MH129882 / NIMH NIH HHS R01AG053952 / NIH HHS
- Identifiers
- 991005884937607891
- Copyright
- © 2026 The Author(s).
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Psychology
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: SDGs in the Output
Metrics
2 Record Views