Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) increases future risk of dementia, however, several studies have shown that mental and physical exercise reduce this risk. From the Study of Mental Activity and Resistance Training (SMART) we have previously shown significantly improved global cognitive function immediately after 6 months of progressive resistance training in MCI. In this analysis, we compare longitudinal hippocampal volume change in MCI using linear mixed effects models over an 18-month period comprised of a 6-month training phase and a 12-month post training follow-up. Our results show both isolated cognitive and progressive resistance training significantly diminished the rate of left hippocampal atrophy compared to a double sham intervention across training and an extended follow-up period.
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