Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41787479›Full record

ArticleAlzheimer's research & therapy2026

The active ingredients: physical activity features linked to healthy brain aging.

Claire J Cadwallader, Pedro Pinheiro-Chagas, Rowan Saloner, Laura Fenton, Anna M VandeBunte, May Lin, Albert Pham, Coty Chen, Valentina E Diaz, Molly Olzinski and 9 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Alzheimer's research & therapy, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

19 authors.

Claire J CadwalladerMemory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA. cjcadwallader94@gmail.com.
Pedro Pinheiro-ChagasMemory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
Rowan SalonerMemory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
Laura FentonMemory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
Anna M VandeBunteMemory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
May LinMemory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
Albert PhamMemory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
Coty ChenMemory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
Valentina E DiazMemory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
Molly OlzinskiMemory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
Sophia LicataMemory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
Lana CalliesMemory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
Carina LoMemory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
Jessica BuxtonMemory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
Yann CobigoMemory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
Gil RabinoviciMemory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
Joel H KramerMemory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
Kaitlin B CasalettoMemory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
Emily W PaolilloMemory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.

Funding

Research Education ComponentP30AG062422 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · PI Jennifer S Yokoyama · 2019 to 2026
$36.9M
Mechanisms of Executive Decline in Normal AgingR01AG032289 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · PI Kaitlin B Casaletto, JOEL H KRAMER · 2009 to 2026
$8.3M
Unraveling the intersection of synaptic biology, lifestyle, and cognitive resilienceR01AG072475 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · PI CASALETTO, KAITLIN B · 2021 to 2025
$4.3M
Effects of chronic inflammation on brain structure and functionR01AG048234 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · PI KRAMER, JOEL H · 2015 to 2019
$3.2M
Can Behavior Shape Neural Health? Identifying Modifiable Factors to Prevent Cognitive Decline in AgeK23AG058752 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · PI CASALETTO, KAITLIN B · 2018 to 2022
$994k
Passive digital phenotyping for capturing real-world neurobehavior in neurodegenerative diseaseK23AG084883 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · PI Emily Paolillo · 2024 to 2026
$592k
Deciphering the molecular landscape of frontotemporal lobar degeneration: A network-based proteomic approachK23AG090757 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · PI Rowan Saloner · 2025 to 2026
$400k
Alzheimer's Association AARF-23-1145318Alzheimer's Association AARG-20-683875Larry L. Hillblom Foundation 2018-A-006-NETLarry L. Hillblom Foundation 2024-A-001-CTRNew Vision Research Charleston Conference on Alzheimer's Disease CCAD: 2024-001-1NIA NIH HHS K23 AG058752NIA NIH HHS K23 AG084883NIA NIH HHS K23 AG090757NIA NIH HHS P30 AG062422NIA NIH HHS R01 AG032289NIA NIH HHS R01 AG048234NIA NIH HHS R01 AG072475NIH HHS K23AG084883NIH HHS K23AG090757NIH HHS R01AG032289NIH HHS R01AG072475NIH HHS UCSF ADRC P30AG062422
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPhysical activity is a modifiable lifestyle factor linked to better brain health in older adults, yet the optimal parameters (e.g., frequency, duration), and person-specific interactions (e.g., age, sex), remain unclear.

methodsWe developed a novel algorithm to isolate real-world physical activity “sessions” (at least 10 min at greater than or equal to 40 steps/min) from 30 days of wrist actigraphy data in 279 older adults without dementia. Ridge regression models assessed associations of 42 in- and out-of-session physical activity features and their interactions with demographics on cognition and neuroimaging outcomes.

results79% of participants engaged in at least one physical activity session (“exercisers”). Exercisers had lower white matter hyperintensity burden compared to non-exercisers. Session frequency and session step cadence emerged as the most important predictors of brain health, particularly for white matter health indices and executive function, with relatively stronger associations in females. Out-of-session features and all interactions with age were least predictive.

conclusionsPhysical activity session frequency and cadence were the most robust predictors of brain health, emphasizing the importance of physical activity structure over quantity for dementia prevention strategies.

Indexed as

AgingBrainExerciseHealthy AgingActigraphyAgedAged, 80 and overAlgorithmsCognitionExecutive FunctionFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleWhite MatterAccelerometryBrain agingCerebrovascular healthExecutive functionExerciseIntensityPhysical activitySex differencesStep countWhite matter

Identifiers

PMID41787479
PMCPMC13094126

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.