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Therapeutically relevant structural and functional mechanisms triggered by physical and cognitive exercise
Suo C, Singh MF, Gates N, Wen W, Sachdev P, Brodaty H, Saigal N, Wilson GC et al.. Molecular psychiatry, 2016-03-22
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Physical and cognitive exercise may prevent or delay dementia in later life but the neural mechanisms underlying these therapeutic benefits are largely unknown. We examined structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain changes after 6 months of progressive resistance training (PRT), computerized cognitive training (CCT) or combined intervention. A total of 100 older individuals (68 females, average age=70.1, s.d.±6.7, 55-87 years) with dementia prodrome mild cognitive impairment were recruited in the SMART (Study of Mental Activity and Resistance Training) Trial. Participants were randomly assigned into four intervention groups: PRT+CCT, PRT+SHAM CCT, CCT+SHAM PRT and double SHAM. Multimodal MRI was conducted at baseline and at 6 months of follow-up (immediately after training) to measure structural and spontaneous functional changes in the brain, with a focus on the hippocampus and posterior cingulate regions. Participants' cognitive changes were also assessed before and after training. We found that PRT but not CCT significantly improved global cognition (F(90)=4.1, P corrected <0.05), and these changes were related to each other (r=0.25, P=0.03). PRT also reversed progression of white matter hyperintensities, a biomarker of cerebrovascular disease, in several brain areas. In contrast, CCT but not PRT attenuated decline in overall memory performance (F(90)=5.7, P<0.02), mediated by enhanced functional connectivity between the hippocampus and superior frontal cortex. Our findings indicate that physical and cognitive training depend on discrete neuronal mechanisms for their therapeutic efficacy, information that may help develop targeted lifestyle-based preventative strategies.
Key findings
- We found that PRT but not CCT significantly improved global cognition (F(90)=4.1, P corrected <0.05), and these changes were related to each other (r=0.25, P=0.03).
- In contrast, CCT but not PRT attenuated decline in overall memory performance (F(90)=5.7, P<0.02), mediated by enhanced functional connectivity between the hippocampus and superior frontal cortex.
- Our findings indicate that physical and cognitive training depend on discrete neuronal mechanisms for their therapeutic efficacy, information that may help develop targeted lifestyle-based preventative strategies.
Why it matters
In this trial of 100 older adults with mild cognitive impairment, progressive resistance training but not computerized cognitive training significantly improved global cognition and reversed progression of white matter hyperintensities, while cognitive training but not resistance training attenuated memory decline. The findings indicate physical and cognitive training work through different mechanisms, but this addresses delay or prevention rather than cure.
Study details
- Participants100
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 58/100
Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design and effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Molecular psychiatry) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Molecular Psychiatry: journal h-index 318 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2016 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 100 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 | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 213 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 17.8 citations a year over 12 year(s) since 2016 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 19.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 3 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 46 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Michael Valenzuela: h-index 58 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of California, San Francisco: institution h-index 1,915 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 3 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 12 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 27001615) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 58 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
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APA 7th
Suo, C., Singh, M. F., Gates, N., Wen, W., Sachdev, P., Brodaty, H., et al. (2016). Therapeutically relevant structural and functional mechanisms triggered by physical and cognitive exercise. Molecular psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2016.19
Vancouver
Suo C, Singh MF, Gates N, Wen W, Sachdev P, Brodaty H, et al. Therapeutically relevant structural and functional mechanisms triggered by physical and cognitive exercise. Molecular psychiatry. 2016. doi:10.1038/mp.2016.19. PMID: 27001615.
BibTeX
@article{suo2016-27001615,
author = {Suo, C. and Singh, M. F. and Gates, N. and Wen, W. and Sachdev, P. and Brodaty, H. and Saigal, N. and Wilson, G. C. and others},
title = {{Therapeutically relevant structural and functional mechanisms triggered by physical and cognitive exercise}},
journal = {Molecular psychiatry},
year = {2016},
doi = {10.1038/mp.2016.19},
pmid = {27001615},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2016.19}
}
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