Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Apolipoprotein E Genotype, and Cognitive Functions: A Prospective Study

Completed

Brief Summary: The current research project aims to investigate the interaction of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and the ApoE genotype with neurocognitive functions.

Detailed Description: The current research project aims to investigate the interaction of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and the ApoE genotype with neurocognitive functions. The three main purposes of the current research project seek to achieve:

1. An exploration of the associations of, as well as the interactions between, CRF assessed at the Baseline Stage, and the ApoE genotype, along with cognitive functions in cognitively healthy late-middle-aged older adults.

2. The employing of an event-related potential (ERP) to investigate the associations between the baseline CRF, the ApoE genotype, and cognitive functions in cognitively healthy late-middle-aged older adults, as well as the potential underlying neuroelectrical mechanisms.

3. An investigation of the interactions between the changes of CRFs assessed at the Baseline and the Follow-Up Stages and the ApoE genotype in relation to neurocognitive function, as well as the underlying neuroelectrical mechanisms, in cognitively healthy late-middle-aged older adults.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

right handed
no history of cardiorespiratory disease
normal or corrected-to-normal vision based on the 20/20 standard
no risk of performing physical activities, as measured by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire

Exclusion Criteria

the scores of Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) < 25 and cognitively intact upon study entry
history of psychiatric or neurological diseases
color-blindness

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
High-Risk with increased CRF	Data collections	ApoE e4 carriers with increased CRF from Baseline to the Follow-Up Stages.
Low-Risk with increased CRF	Data collections	Non-ApoE e4 carriers with increased CRF from Baseline to the Follow-Up Stages.
Low-Risk with decreased CRF	Data collections	Non-ApoE e4 carriers with decreased CRF from Baseline to the Follow-Up Stages.
High-Risk with decreased CRF	Data collections	ApoE e4 carriers with decreased CRF from Baseline to the Follow-Up Stages.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Changes in Inhibitory Performance: Stroop Task	30 minutes each at the Baseline and the Follow-Up visit at Month 18	Inhibitory performance was assessed using the computerized Stroop task at the Baseline and at the Follow-Up assessments. The difference in response time (RT) between the Baseline and the Follow-Up Stages was calculated as the index of the inhibitory performance.
Changes in Neuroelectrical Activities	30 minutes each at the Baseline and the Follow-Up visit at Month 18	The neuroelectrical activities (P3 component) during the Stroop task were recorded and analyzed using the Neuroscan system. The difference in P3 amplitudes of incongruent trials between the Baseline and the Follow-Up Stages was calculated as the index of the neuroelectrical index.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Number of Participants for Whom ApoE Genotype Was Determined	5 minutes at the Baseline Stage.	Participants' ApoE genotype was determined based on the genetic biomarkers (rs429358 and rs7412)
Physical Fitness Measurements: Changes in Aerobic Fitness	30 minutes each at the Baseline and the Follow-Up visit at Month 18	Participants' aerobic fitness was estimated using the submaximal cycle ergometer test at the baseline and at the follow-up assessments. The difference in maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max) between the Baseline and the Follow-Up Stages was calculated as the index of aerobic fitness.