Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Apolipoprotein E Genotype, and Cognitive Functions: A Prospective Study

The current research project aims to investigate the interaction of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and the ApoE genotype with neurocognitive functions. The three main purposes of the current research project seek to achieve:

• An exploration of the associations of, as well as the interactions between, CRF assessed at the Baseline Stage, and the ApoE genotype, along with cognitive functions in cognitively healthy late-middle-aged older adults.
• The employing of an event-related potential (ERP) to investigate the associations between the baseline CRF, the ApoE genotype, and cognitive functions in cognitively healthy late-middle-aged older adults, as well as the potential underlying neuroelectrical mechanisms.
• An investigation of the interactions between the changes of CRFs assessed at the Baseline and the Follow-Up Stages and the ApoE genotype in relation to neurocognitive function, as well as the underlying neuroelectrical mechanisms, in cognitively healthy late-middle-aged older adults.

Inclusion criteria

• right handed
• no history of cardiorespiratory disease
• normal or corrected-to-normal vision based on the 20/20 standard
• no risk of performing physical activities, as measured by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire

Exclusion criteria

• the scores of Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) < 25 and cognitively intact upon study entry
• history of psychiatric or neurological diseases
• color-blindness