Grant: Project Grant

Developing dementia is one of the greatest fears of aging. In fact, many fear it more than cancer. Unfortunately, it is estimated that the number of individuals with dementia will only rapidly increase over the next few decades. Thus, the societal value of identifying and developing effective intervention strategies against dementia cannot be overstated. Exercise is a promising strategy for dementia prevention. However, a large degree of variation exists in the observed benefit of exercise on cognition in older adults. Data suggest that older women's thinking abilities and brains may benefit more than older men from exercise. Yet, no intervention study to date have been designed to specifically and comprehensively examine this possible sex difference. Dedicated examination of this possible sex difference is needed because there are more Canadian women with dementia than men, while more men may be at risk for dementia than women. In this proposed study, we will study whether biological sex (i.e., female versus male) alters the impact of exercise on cognitive function in older adults who are at risk for dementia (i.e., mild cognitive impairment). Older adults with mild cognitive impairment represent an ideal target population for intervention strategies, as the preservation of their cognitive function will likely maintain and prolong their ability to live independently and with quality. We will also study how exercise improves cognitive function and whether the "how" is different between older women and older men. The health and financial burden imposed by dementia is immense. Our proposed study could have major impact in Canada and internationally by advancing our ability to use "exercise as medicine" in a specific manner for older women and older men to promote healthy cognitive aging and prevent dementia.