Project R-17027

Personalized Exercise Interventions to Preserve Brain Health and Cognition in Type 2 Diabetes (Research)

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) affects one in ten adults worldwide and is a growing global health concern. Although treatment strategies mainly target cardiometabolic outcomes, the increased risk of dementia in individuals with T2DM is often overlooked. Physical activity and structured exercise training are central to diabetes management, providing established metabolic benefits and emerging benefits for brain health. However, the specific effects of exercise on brain health in T2DM remain poorly understood. While previous studies have examined exercise-related changes in brain volume and cognition, its impact on cerebral microvascular dysfunction and structural brain damage is less clear. In particular, the interplay between diabetes pathology, physical inactivity, and cardiorespiratory fitness in shaping brain microstructure and vascular function requires further investigation. This project will examine associations between diabetes-related pathology, inactivity, and physical fitness and MRI markers of brain microstructure and vascular function in individuals with T2DM and healthy controls. It will also evaluate the effects of a six-month personalized high-intensity interval training program versus moderate continuous training on neurovascular health and brain fluid dynamics. Exercise-induced changes will be assessed using advanced neuroimaging, blood-based biomarkers, and cognitive testing.

01 November 2026 - 31 October 2030