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Physical Exercise and Longitudinal Trajectories in Alzheimer Disease Biomarkers and Cognitive Functioning
Stojanovic M, Jin Y, Fagan AM, Benzinger TL, Hassenstab J, Cruchaga C, Morris JC, Head D.. Alzheimer disease and associated disorders, 2020-07-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Introduction Associations of physical exercise with Alzheimer disease (AD) biomarkers and cognitive functioning have been observed cross-sectionally. However, the effects of exercise on longitudinal change in AD biomarkers have not been thoroughly investigated. The current study examined whether individuals with higher baseline exercise exhibited less longitudinal change in AD biomarkers and cognitive functioning, and whether APOE and/or brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) genotypes moderated the effects of exercise on longitudinal changes.
Key findings
- However, the effects of exercise on longitudinal change in AD biomarkers have not been thoroughly investigated.
- The current study examined whether individuals with higher baseline exercise exhibited less longitudinal change in AD biomarkers and cognitive functioning, and whether APOE and/or brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) genotypes moderated the effects of exercise on longitudinal changes.
- Methods Clinically normal individuals completed a questionnaire on physical exercise over the prior 10-year period at baseline.
- Ninety-five individuals had serial cerebrospinal fluid samples collected to examine Aβ42, ptau181 and total tau; 181 individuals underwent multiple assessments of amyloid positron emission tomography imaging with Pittsburgh Compound-B; 327 individuals underwent multiple cognitive assessments, including measures of episodic memory, executive functions, verbal fluency, and processing speed.
Why it matters
This longitudinal study asked whether people who exercised more at baseline showed less change over time in Alzheimer's biomarkers and cognition, and whether APOE or BDNF genotype changed that. It is observational, so it does not prove that exercise prevents or treats Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants181
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 50/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer disease and associated disorders) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders: journal h-index 131 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A longitudinal study following the same people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2020 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 181 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 22 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.8 citations a year over 8 year(s) since 2020 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 9 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Denise M Head: h-index 44 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Washington University in St. Louis: institution h-index 1,962 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 32520736) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 50 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1097/wad.0000000000000385
- PubMed: 32520736
- Original source →
- Free full text: PubMed Central →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Stojanovic, M., Jin, Y., Fagan, A. M., Benzinger, T. L., Hassenstab, J., Cruchaga, C., et al. (2020). Physical Exercise and Longitudinal Trajectories in Alzheimer Disease Biomarkers and Cognitive Functioning. Alzheimer disease and associated disorders. https://doi.org/10.1097/wad.0000000000000385
Vancouver
Stojanovic M, Jin Y, Fagan AM, Benzinger TL, Hassenstab J, Cruchaga C, et al. Physical Exercise and Longitudinal Trajectories in Alzheimer Disease Biomarkers and Cognitive Functioning. Alzheimer disease and associated disorders. 2020. doi:10.1097/wad.0000000000000385. PMID: 32520736.
BibTeX
@article{stojanovic2020-32520736,
author = {Stojanovic, M. and Jin, Y. and Fagan, A. M. and Benzinger, T. L. and Hassenstab, J. and Cruchaga, C. and Morris, J. C. and Head, D.},
title = {{Physical Exercise and Longitudinal Trajectories in Alzheimer Disease Biomarkers and Cognitive Functioning}},
journal = {Alzheimer disease and associated disorders},
year = {2020},
doi = {10.1097/wad.0000000000000385},
pmid = {32520736},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1097/wad.0000000000000385}
}
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