Aerobic Exercise and Cerebrovascular Function
Completed · Not applicable
Conditions studied: Aging
In brief
This proposal will evaluate two brain health measures, cerebrovascular perfusion and cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), before and after a proven, interval-based, aerobic exercise intervention in older Veterans. The hypothesis is that the 12-week aerobic exercise intervention (Spin) will increase perfusion and improve CVR in brain regions susceptible to age-related decline. This information will inform the impact of exercise on cerebrovascular health which is known to be negatively impacted in aging and implicated in the development of neurodegenerative disease. This information will also aid the investigators' continued efforts of clinical implementation of evidence-based exercise interventions in the local Atlanta VA and surround region.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT03803904
- Run by
- VA Office of Research and Development
- People needed
- 37
- Starts
- 2019-04-01
- Expected to finish
- 2026-01-15
- Last updated by the study team
- 2026-06-09
Who can join
Age: 65 and older, up to 80. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Adults aged 65-80 who do not regularly exercise
- defined as exercising less than 20 minutes twice per week
- Are willing and able to cooperate with assessments and interventions
- Participant will be quantified at or below the "poor" range for cardiovascular fitness as assessed by a volume of oxygen (VO2) test
- 26.0 ml/kg/min for males
- 21.0 ml/kg/min for females)
- 26 on the MoCA to meet the criteria for cognitively intact
- Participants will be free from diseases affecting cognition or that would interfere with their ability to engage in aerobic exercise - including but not limited to:
- chronic heart
- liver
- kidney disease
- Free from diseases/injuries directly affecting brain functions - including but not limited to:
- significant closed head injury
- open intracranial wounds
- stroke
- epilepsy
- degenerative diseases of the nervous system
- All subjects will speak English as a primary language and will have at minimum a high school diploma so that behavioral/cognitive measures reflect effects of aging and aerobic exercise and not unfamiliarity with the English language or a lack of education
You may not qualify if…
- Potential participants with major psychiatric disorder - including but not limited to:
- psychosis
- major depression
- bipolar disorder
- Individuals with ongoing drug or alcohol abuse and severe hypertension (systolic BP > 200 or diastolic BP > 110 mm Hg or subjects taking three or more antihypertensive medications
- Participants must not have conditions incompatible with MRI - including but not limited to:
- ferrous metal implants
- cardiac pacemakers or similar devices
- claustrophobia
- morbid obesity
- Persons engaging in significant skilled manual movements regularly will be excluded so that behavioral/motor measures reflect the effects of age and aerobic exercise and not the effects of frequent practice
Where it is running
- Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA — Decatur, Georgia, United States
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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