Yulia Korduke: APOE ε4 and Cognitive Status Moderate the Association Between Midlife Physical Activity and Cerebral Perfusion

Midlife physical activity (PA) is associated with lower dementia risk, and aerobic exercise trials show cerebral perfusion gains in healthy older adults, although findings in cognitively impaired groups are less consistent. Emerging evidence suggests APOE ε4 carriage may modulate these effects.

We tested whether APOE ε4 carriage and cognitive status together moderated the midlife PA-cerebral perfusion association. In 174 older adults classified as cognitively unimpaired or amnestic mild cognitive impairment, midlife PA was derived from a self-reported questionnaire and cerebral blood flow (CBF) measured using pseudo-continuous ASL MRI across seven a priori ROIs. We found significant three-way interactions in the posterior cingulate, precuneus, and frontal lobe.