Relationship between motor reserve, general cognitive functioning and brain atrophy in older adults
- 1Department of Radiology, Riga Stradins University
- 2Department of Health Psychology and Paedagogy, Riga Stradins University
- 3Institute of Public Health, Riga Stradins University
Abstract
As the population continues to age, a rise in the number of individuals experiencing mild cognitive impairment or dementia symptoms is anticipated. Brain atrophy is strongly associated with cognitive decline that could progress further to dementia. Motor reserve, a cumulative experience of physical activity throughout life, has been identified as a potential protective factor against cognitive decline. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between motor reserve, general cognitive function and brain atrophy in older adults with previously no reported cognitive impairment. All participants underwent detailed assessment of their lifestyle and psychological status, as well as structural magnetic resonance imaging for volumetric brain data. Visual rating scales (Global Cognitive Atrophy scale, Medial Temporal Atrophy scale, Parietal Atrophy scale, Entorhinal Cortex Atrophy, and Frontotemporal Atrophy scale) were used to grade the level of brain atrophy. Montreal Cognitive Assessment screening task was performed to evaluate global cognitive functioning in all subjects. 54 older adults (18.5% men) aged from 65 to 85 (M = 71.44 years, SD = 5.01 years) were included in the study. The study results showed a tendency towards the relationship between several cortical atrophy scales and the motor reserve; nevertheless, after controlling for global cognition, motor reserve was associated only with Entorhinal Cortex Atrophy Scale score in the left hemisphere and whole brain, and parietal atrophy score in the left hemisphere. The results suggest that individuals with higher motor reserve scores may be less likely to develop brain atrophy in the entorhinal, medial-temporal and parietal cortices; however, due to the small sample, the results should be interpreted with caution.
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BibTeX
@article{kaļva2026relationship,
title = {{Relationship between motor reserve, general cognitive functioning and brain atrophy in older adults}},
author = {Kalvis Kaļva and Kristīne Šneidere and Nauris Zdanovskis and Roberts Naglis and Ardis Platkājis and Ainārs Stepens},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-59842-8},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-59842-8},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Relationship between motor reserve, general cognitive functioning and brain atrophy in older adults
AU - Kalvis Kaļva
AU - Kristīne Šneidere
AU - Nauris Zdanovskis
AU - Roberts Naglis
AU - Ardis Platkājis
AU - Ainārs Stepens
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Scientific Reports
DO - 10.1038/s41598-026-59842-8
UR - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-59842-8
AB - As the population continues to age, a rise in the number of individuals experiencing mild cognitive impairment or dementia symptoms is anticipated. Brain atrophy is strongly associated with cognitive decline that could progress further to dementia. Motor reserve, a cumulative experience of physical activity throughout life, has been identified as a potential protective factor against cognitive decline. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between motor reserve, general cognitive function and brain atrophy in older adults with previously no reported cognitive impairment. All participants underwent detailed assessment of their lifestyle and psychological status, as well as structural magnetic resonance imaging for volumetric brain data. Visual rating scales (Global Cognitive Atrophy scale, Medial Temporal Atrophy scale, Parietal Atrophy scale, Entorhinal Cortex Atrophy, and Frontotemporal Atrophy scale) were used to grade the level of brain atrophy. Montreal Cognitive Assessment screening task was performed to evaluate global cognitive functioning in all subjects. 54 older adults (18.5% men) aged from 65 to 85 (M = 71.44 years, SD = 5.01 years) were included in the study. The study results showed a tendency towards the relationship between several cortical atrophy scales and the motor reserve; nevertheless, after controlling for global cognition, motor reserve was associated only with Entorhinal Cortex Atrophy Scale score in the left hemisphere and whole brain, and parietal atrophy score in the left hemisphere. The results suggest that individuals with higher motor reserve scores may be less likely to develop brain atrophy in the entorhinal, medial-temporal and parietal cortices; however, due to the small sample, the results should be interpreted with caution.
SN - 2045-2322
ER -