Abstract
Physical activity is widely recognized as one of the most robust modifiable protective factors against cognitive decline. But the relationship between physical load and cognition is more nuanced than “more exercise is better.” Occupational physical demands differ from recreational exercise in intensity, duration, voluntariness, and physiological stress profile. Whether different types and magnitudes of physical load — particularly sustained occupational load — interact with neurodegeneration markers in the same way as structured exercise remains an open question.
This project examines how physical load — broadly defined to include both occupational and recreational demands — relates to cognitive performance and its neural substrates over time.
[Additional details on study design, data source, and specific hypotheses to be added.]