1 Department of Health, Kinesiology, and Applied Physiology, Faculty of Arts and Science, Concordia University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
2 Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
3 School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Applied Science and Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
4 Department of Medicine, King Saud University, College of Medicine, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
5 Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
6 Department of Psychology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

Introduction: Physical activity is associated with greater myelin content in older individuals with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), a condition marked by demyelination. However, potential mechanisms underlying this relationship remain understudied.

Methods: We assessed cross-sectionally whether serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides moderated the association between physical activity and in vivo myelin in older individuals with CSVD and mild cognitive impairment.

Results: We included 81 highly educated, community-dwelling older individuals (mean age 74.57 years), 64% of whom were female. Regression models revealed that HDL levels significantly moderated the relationship between physical activity and myelin in the sagittal stratum, wherein higher physical activity levels were linked to greater myelin levels for those with average or high HDL (standardized B [95% CI] = 0.289 [0.087 to 0.491], p = 0.006).

Discussion: Physical activity may promote myelin health partly through HDL. Data from longitudinal studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Highlights: Myelin loss is common in individuals with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). Physical activity was positively associated with myelin in older adults with CSVD. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) levels were also positively related to myelin. Physical activity effects on myelin were moderated by HDL levels.