Exercise and Endocannabinoids for Brain and Mental Health

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Children; Adolescents

• Registration Number: NCT06808490
• Lead Sponsor: Wayne State University

Brief Summary

This study will explore how exercise affects brain chemicals called endocannabinoids, which may improve thinking skills and reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and low mood in children and teens aged 9 to 17. Participants will take part in a single 30-minute activity session, where they will be randomly assigned to one of three groups:

1. Moderate-intensity exercise (walking or running on a treadmill at 50-70% of their maximum heart rate).

2. Light stretching (gentle movements at less than 40% of their maximum heart rate).

3. Seated meditation (relaxing without movement at less than 30% of their maximum heart rate).

The investigators will measure endocannabinoid levels, thinking skills, and mood before and after the activity to see how these activities affect the brain and emotions.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2021-12-21
• Primary Completion: 2024-03-18
• Study Completion: 2024-03-18
• Status Verified: 2025-01
• Study First Submitted: 2025-01-07
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-01-29
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-01-29
• Study First Posted: 2025-02-05
• Last Update Posted: 2025-02-05

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 68

Inclusion Criteria

• Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
• Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and available for the duration of the study
• 9-17 years of age
• Adolescent and parent/guardian are English-speaking, as study assessments are in English
• Right-handed

Exclusion Criteria

• Head injury
• Sensory (e.g., hearing) impairment
• Physical (e.g., motor, balance) impairment
• Physical disabilities
• Neurological disorders
• Any condition that would contraindicate blood draws

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Affect	Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions	Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) - Child Version
Mood state	Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions	Mood and Feelings Questionnaire for Children
Endocannabinoid (eCB) Concentrations	Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions	Plasma and saliva samples will be collected immediately before and after exercise or control conditions. Samples will be analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to quantify concentrations of eCBs.
Cognitive performance (Dimensional Change Card Sort Test)	Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions	The NIH Toolbox® iPad application will be administered to measure executive functioning before and after the exercise or control condition: Dimensional Change Card Sort Test (DCCS).
Cognitive performance (Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test)	Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions	The NIH Toolbox® iPad application will be administered to measure executive functioning before and after the exercise or control condition: Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test (Flanker).
Cognitive performance (Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test)	Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions	The NIH Toolbox® iPad application will be administered to measure executive functioning before and after the exercise or control condition: Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test (PCT).
Cognitive performance (Picture Sequence Memory Test)	Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions	The NIH Toolbox® iPad application will be administered to measure executive functioning before and after the exercise or control condition: Picture Sequence Memory Test (PSMT).
Anxiety symptoms	Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions	State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for children

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Tolan Park Medical Building; 🇺🇸 Detroit, Michigan, United States