Project R-13712

Impact of volume versus intensity of exercise therapy on the brain in T2DM. (Research)

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is still strongly on the rise, with an estimated current worldwide prevalence of around 12%. Next to the well-known cardiovascular complications, T2DM also affects brain function, structure and metabolism. Recent studies reported significant unfavorable changes in the brain of T2DM patients, such as a decreased regional gray matter volume (GMV), and altered intrinsic activity mainly in the default mode network. Additionally, there is evidence that the brain's neurometabolites change dramatically during the development of T2DM, suggesting disturbances in metabolism, neurotransmission and lipid membrane metabolism. Hence, T2DM patients are at high risk for significant brain complications. On the other hand, studies have shown that greater physical activity (PA) levels relate to better cognitive function in T2DM and that exercise intervention could positively affect the brain and cognitive function in T2DM. What however remains to be established is which type of exercise would offer the greatest protection against the worsening in brain structure and neurometabolites even in healthy people, let alone in T2DM. Hence, the key objective is to examine the impact of the volume vs. intensity of six months exercise training on brain structure and neurometabolites in patients with T2DM, with the aim to offer the best protection against the development of pathological brain atrophy (MCI and dementia) by means of exercise training.

01 January 2023 - 31 December 2026