Physical activity is one of the key actions we can introduce into our lifestyles producing significant benefits on our lifelong health. Researchers and public health officials advise that engaging in physical activity across the life course influences our health in multiple ways from prevention and management of noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes, reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety, and improving overall well-being.
When considering brain health and cognitive aging, the Lancet Commission lists physical activity as one of the 14 modifiable risk factors that contribute to lifelong reduction of dementia risk by up to 45%. Whereas the impact of physical activity on brain health is undeniable, significant variability exists in the understanding of the impact on diverse demographics and specific mechanisms related to cognitive aging and among diverse forms of dementia.
Our guest this episode of the Dancing into Brain HealthPodcast is neuropsychologist and researcher, Dr. Kaitlin Casaletto. Dr. Casaletto's research program aims to prevent cognitive decline by identifying the biological and behavioral drivers of cognitive resilience with age.
Together we discuss the latest research on how engaging inphysical activity can protect our brains as we age and explore new avenues of research and practice on the horizon.
Learn more about Dr. Kaitlin Casaletto here: https://memory.ucsf.edu/people/kaitlin-casalettoor follow her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaitlin-casaletto-68959b58/'
Read some of Dr. Casaletto’s work:
Late-life physical activity and cognitive resilience:
“Late-Life Physical and Cognitive Activities IndependentlyContribute to Brain and Cognitive Resilience”
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7233450/
“Late-life physical activity relates to brain tissue synaptic integrity markers in older adults”
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9259753/
“Microglial Correlates of Late Life Physical Activity: Relationship with Synaptic and Cognitive Aging in Older Adults”
https://www.jneurosci.org/content/42/2/288
“Get Moving! Increases in Physical Activity Are AssociatedWith Increasing Functional Connectivity Trajectories in Typically Aging Adults”
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7198911/
“Network-based Plasma Proteomics Reveals Molecular Overlap Between Physical Activity and Dementia Risk”
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.03.07.25323587v1
Physical activity correlations with progression amongpeople living with Frontotemporal Dementia:
“Active lifestyles moderate clinical outcomes in autosomaldominant frontotemporal degeneration”
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6953618/
Sex differences in cognitive aging:
“Sexual dimorphism of physical activity on cognitive aging:Role of immune functioning”
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7416443/
Interested to learn more about Dr. Casaletto and colleagues’research on sex-specific brain health? Check out Ann S. Bowers Women's Brain Health Initiative (https://wbhi.ucsb.edu/) to access educational videos, learn about the latest research and reach out to participate in upcoming studies.
This episode of Dancing into Brain Health was edited andproduced by me, Magda Kaczmarska and Hilary Brown-Istrefi. The music for this show is the title cut from the album, Critical Path by Joe Venegoni and Carl Weingarten.