Cybercycling for Older Adults: Neuropsychological, Physiological and Behavioral Effects
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- Enrollment
- 63
- Locations
- 16
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in cognitive function after three months of exercise.
Study Overview
Brief Summary
Exercise has been linked to cognitive health, but few older adults exercise at recommended levels. Cybercycling may provide additional cognitive benefits due to increased motivation to ride the interactive 3D tours. Participants will be randomly assigned to three months of either cybercycling or traditional stationary biking; and they will complete comprehensive evaluations before and after exercise. Older adults are expected to show significant neuropsychological, physiological and behavioral gains.
Detailed Description
The purpose of this study is to test the following hypotheses: (1) stationary cycling with virtual reality tours ("cybercyle") will enhance executive function and clinical status more than traditional exercise; (2) exercise effort will explain improvement; and (3) brain-derived neurotrophic growth factor (BDNF) will increase.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Prevention
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 50 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •able to participate in cycling
- •physician permission
Exclusion Criteria
- •unstable heart condition
- •physician denial
- •neurological condition
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in cognitive function after three months of exercise.
Time Frame: 3 months
Cognitive function, especially executive function, will be assessed before and after three months of either cybercycling or traditional exercise biking. Neuropsychological tests will assess: cognitive flexibility and simultaneous processing(i.e., Stroop, Digits Backwards, and Trails Difference Score).
Secondary Outcomes
- Weight(3 months)
Investigators
Cay Anderson-Hanley
Associate Professor
Union College, New York