Project 466941

As the incidence and prevalence of dementia continues to rise, there is a growing need for accessible interventions to manage this devastating condition. Vascular cognitive impairment, primarily caused by cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), refers to all forms of cognitive disorder associated with cerebrovascular disease and is the second most common form of cognitive impairment. A common manifestation of CSVD is white matter hyperintensities (WMH) which represent various types of brain damage including the loss of myelin. Due to their vascular nature, cardiovascular conditions (e.g., hypertension, diabetes) are significant risk factors for WMHs. Thus, positive lifestyle behaviours, like exercise, that promote cardiovascular health may mitigate the detrimental effects of WMHs. Previous randomized controlled trials (RCT) have shown that resistance training (RT) can reduce WMH progression. However, the mechanism behind this effect is unknown. Myelin is critical for facilitating neuronal communication and like WMHs, its degeneration can manifest as debilitating changes in sensation, cognition, and movement. Evidence suggests insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is involved in myelination and RT can increase IGF-1 levels. Thus, the proposed study aims to determine if RT may reduce WMH progression by promoting myelination. Data from a completed 12-month RCT will be used to compare cerebral myelin content between participants (n=55) who received an RT intervention and a control group. Potential associations between changes in myelin content and changes in cognitive function will also be investigated. This study will elucidate the role of RT in mitigating vascular cognitive impairment, thus allowing for refinement of future RT recommendations.