Efficacy of High-Intensity Aerobic Exercise on Brain MRI Measures in Multiple Sclerosis.

Abstract

To determine whether 24 weeks of high-intensity progressive aerobic exercise (PAE) affects brain MRI measures in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). We conducted a randomized, controlled, phase 2 trial (with a crossover follow-up) including an exercise group (supervised PAE followed by self-guided physical activity) and a waitlist group (habitual lifestyle followed by supervised PAE). Mildly to severely impaired patients with MS aged 18-65 years were randomized (1:1). The primary outcome was percentage brain volume change (PBVC) after 24 weeks, analyzed using the intention-to-treat principle. Eighty-six participants were recruited. PBVC did not change over the intervention period (mean between-group change +0.12%, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.27 to 0.51, <i>p</i> = 0.55). In contrast, cardiorespiratory fitness (+3.5 mL O₂/min/kg, 2.0 to 5.1, <i>p</i> < 0.01) and annualized relapse rate (0.00, 0.00-0.07 vs +0.45, 0.28 to 0.61, <i>p</i> < 0.01) improved in the exercise group. These findings do not support a neuroprotective effect of PAE in terms of total brain atrophy in people with MS and it did not lead to a statistically significant difference in gray matter parenchymal fraction. PAE led to improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness and a lower relapse rate. While these exploratory findings cautiously support PAE as a potential adjunct disease-modifying treatment in MS, further investigations are warranted. NCT02661555. This study provides Level I evidence that 24 weeks of high-intensity PAE did not elicit disease-modifying effects in PBVC in people with MS. Exploratory analyses showed that PAE may reduce relapse rate.