Daily activities are associated with non-invasive measures of neuroplasticity in older adults

[Display omitted] •Associations between daily activities and neuroplasticity were investigated in older adults.•More physical activity, and less sedentary behavior and sleep were associated with greater neuroplasticity in the motor cortex.•Associations appeared to be driven by light-, but not moderate-vigorous- physical activities. We aimed to determine the association between daily activities (sleep, sedentary behavior and physical activities) and neuroplasticity in older adults by measuring motor evoked potential amplitudes (MEPs) elicited after a single and spaced continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) paradigm, targeting the primary motor cortex. MEPs were recorded from the right first dorsal interosseous muscle of 34 older adults (66.9 ± 4.5 years) by delivering single-pulse TMS before, between and at 0, 10, 20, 40 and 60 min after the application of spaced-cTBS separated by 10 min. Habitual activity was assessed by accelerometry for 24 h/day over 7-days. Multiple linear regression models determined if the time-use composition (sleep, sedentary behavior and physical activities) was associated with neuroplasticity response. More physical activity at the equal expense of sleep and sedentary behaviors was associated with greater motor cortical neuroplasticity. Associations appeared to be driven by more time spent in light- but not moderate-to-vigorous- physical activities. Engaging in light physical activity at the expense of sleep and sedentary behavior was associated with greater LTD-like motor cortex neuroplasticity (as measured with cTBS) in older adults. These findings suggest the promotion of physical activity among older adults to support brain neuroplasticity.