Descripción del proyecto
Ejercicios innovadores para el cerebro de las personas mayores
Es un hecho que nuestros cerebros envejecen, lo cual provoca un deterioro cognitivo y genera que las personas mayores corran un mayor riesgo de padecer enfermedades neurodegenerativas y demencia. El envejecimiento es el principal factor de riesgo de la mayoría de las enfermedades neurodegenerativas, entre ellas el Alzheimer y el Parkinson, y se carece de tratamiento. Sin embargo, los beneficios demostrados de la actividad física para la salud del cerebro ofrecen nuevas soluciones. En este contexto, el proyecto ART4Brain, financiado con fondos europeos, combinará enfoques innovadores a fin de investigar la posibilidad de utilizar la actividad física para mejorar los resultados relacionados con el encéfalo en pacientes con enfermedades coronarias. El equipo del proyecto ART4Brain estudiará los efectos de los ejercicios aeróbicos y de resistencia sobre el flujo sanguíneo cerebral y otros marcadores de salud del encéfalo mediante el uso de innovadoras técnicas de resonancia magnética y la evaluación de una combinación de comportamientos. El resultado será un programa digital de ejercicios que previene de manera eficaz las enfermedades relacionadas con el encéfalo.
Objetivo
Problem. Coronary heart disease (CHD) patients have a 45% higher risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. Currently, there is no effective therapy to prevent or cure those brain-related diseases. Recent studies showed that physical activity is associated with better cognitive functioning and a risk reduction of cognitive impairment and dementia in the general population. However, studies in CHD patients are largely absent. Evidence about the brain-related health benefits of physical activity are mostly based on aerobic exercise, but recent studies showed that resistance exercise also provides potent health benefits. ART4Brain. The overall aim of the ART4Brain project is to explore the effect of exercise and physical activity on cerebral blood flow, as a potential mechanism of cognitive decline, and executive functioning in CHD patients. Physical activity levels can be an important target in the CHD population, since the prevalence of physical inactivity is high. Accordingly, I will study the following scientifically and clinically relevant objectives: 1. Examine the effects of aerobic vs resistance exercise on global cerebral blood flow and other brain health outcomes such as cerebral vascularisation, brain structure and function using innovative MRI techniques; 2. Examine the association of objectively assessed combinations of behaviours across the full physical activity spectrum (physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep) on executive functioning (cognitive flexibility, working memory, inhibitor control/attention); 3. Translate scientific knowledge into a digital exercise training program by visiting the commercial partner EXi. Relevance for science and candidate. I will use innovative approaches to investigate the potential of exercise and physical activity to improve brain-related outcomes in CHD patients. The studies and training are performed in a world-renowned research group, which will greatly expand my expertise and boost my scientific career.
Ámbito científico
Programa(s)
- HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme
Régimen de financiación
MSCA-PF - MSCA-PFCoordinador
18071 Granada
España