Resistance Training and White Matter Lesion Progression in Older Women: Exploratory Analysis of a 12-Month Randomized Controlled Trial.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Secondary exploratory analysis of an individual randomized controlled trial
PubMed 26456233 · doi:10.1111/jgs.13644
What was done
This was an exploratory secondary analysis of the 52-week randomized controlled Brain Power Study. From 155 community-dwelling women aged 65 to 75, 54 participants with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence of white matter lesions (WMLs) at baseline were included. Participants were randomized to once-weekly resistance training (1x RT), twice-weekly resistance training (2x RT), or twice-weekly balance and tone exercises (BAT) with blinded outcome assessment. The outcome was MRI-measured WML volume at trial completion.
What was found
At trial completion, the 2x RT group had significantly lower WML volume than the BAT group (P = .03), whereas the 1x RT group showed no significant difference compared to BAT (P = .77). Absolute volumetric numbers were not reported in the abstract. Among participants in the RT groups, reduced 12-month WML progression was significantly associated with maintenance of gait speed (r = -0.31, P = .049) but not with executive functions (r = 0.30, P = .06).
Why it matters
Progressive resistance training may offer a non-pharmacological strategy to mitigate the progression of cerebral small vessel disease and related mobility decline in older adults.
Limits
The study is limited by a small exploratory subgroup sample size (n = 54) and a population restricted to women aged 65 to 75. Absolute effect sizes and lesion volumes were not reported in the abstract, and once-weekly training did not demonstrate a significant benefit.