Lifestyle interventions have positive neuroprotective effects in aging. However, there are still open questions about how changes in resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) contribute to cognitive improvements. The Projecte Moviment is a 12-weeks randomized controlled trial of a multimodal data acquisition protocol that investigated the effects of aerobic exercise (AE), computerized cognitive training (CCT), and their combination (COMB). An initial list of 109 participants was recruited from which a total of 82 participants (62% female; age = 58.38 +- 5.47) finished the intervention with a level of adherence > 80%. We report intervention-related changes in rsFC, and their potential role as mediators of cognitive benefits. For the AE group, we revealed a limited network of 11 connections showing an increased rsFC that involved mainly the anterior default mode network (aDMN), the posterior default mode network (pDMN : left middle temporal gyrus, and right precuneus ), and a decreased rsFC that involved the pDMN (left fusiform gyrus (pDMN), right middle temporal gyrus (pDMN), left and right precentral gyrus), the hippocampus, bilateral supplementary motor areas, and the right thalamus. For the CCT group, we untangled a limited network of 6 connections as a combination of increased and decreased rsFC between brain areas located mainly in the aDMN and pDMN. In the COMB group, we revealed an extended network of 33 connections that involved an increased and decreased rsFC within and between the aDMN/pDMN and a reduced rsFC between the bilateral supplementary motor areas and the right thalamus. No global and especially local rsFC changes due to any intervention mediated the cognitive benefits detected in the AE and COMB groups. Projecte Moviment provides evidence of the clinical relevance of lifestyle interventions and the potential benefits when combining them.

The authors have declared no competing interest.

NCT031123900

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2019.00216/full

Projecte Moviment is a project funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness under two grants: Neuroplasticity in the adulthood: physical exercise and cognitive training (PSI2013-47724-P) and Integrative omics study on the neurobiological effects of physical activity and cognitive stimulation (PSI2016-77475-R). It has also been rewarded with three pre-doctoral fellowships (FPU014/01460, FI-2016, and FI-2018).

I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained.

Yes

The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below:

(Bioethics Commission of the University of Barcelona IRB00003099 and Clinical Research Ethics Committee of IDIAP Jordi Gol P16/181) following the Declaration of Helsinki. The study took place between November 2015 and April 2018.

I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals.

Yes

I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance).

Yes

I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable.

Yes

All data produced in the present study are available upon reasonable request to the PI (Professor Mataro)