Physical Activity and Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Novel Role for GPLD1

Completed

• Conditions: Cognitive Dysfunction; Aging
• Interventions: Behavioral: Brain Health Assessments

• Registration Number: NCT04645134
• Lead Sponsor: Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Brief Summary

The investigators are conducting a cross-sectional, observational study to investigate whether plasma GPLD1 concentrations are associated with higher cognitive function and better brain structure and function in two groups of older adults with high or low levels of physical activity.

Detailed Description

This is a cross-sectional, observational study which will enroll up to 28 healthy, older adults (65-85 y, BMI 20-35 kg/m2), and stratify by current self-reported physical activity level (equal inactive vs. equal highly active).

Aim 1: Investigate whether physical activity level is associated with GPLD1.

Aim 2: Investigate whether cognitive function and brain structure/function are associated with GPLD1.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2020-11-22
• Study First Submitted QC: 2020-11-22
• Study First Posted: 2020-11-27
• Study Start: 2021-04-01
• Primary Completion: 2022-03-17
• Study Completion: 2022-03-17
• Status Verified: 2022-11
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-11-11
• Last Update Posted: 2022-11-16

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 25

Inclusion Criteria

• Ages 65-85 y (inclusive)
• Body mass index (BMI) of 20-35 kg/m2 (inclusive)
• Willing to have blood and data stored for future research use

Exclusion Criteria

• History of clinically diagnosed diabetes (Type 1 or 2) or a fasting blood glucose >126 mg/dL
• Diagnosed Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or related-brain diseases
• Chronic use of atypical antipsychotic or bipolar medications
• Initiation of novel pharmacotherapy agents (such as antidepressant, hypertension, or dyslipidemia) within the last 3 months
• Uncontrolled hypertension (blood pressure >160 systolic or >110 diastolic)
• Asthma that limits the ability to participate in moderate to vigorous physical activity or requiring systemic glucocorticoid administration
• Emphysema that limits the ability to participate in moderate to vigorous physical activity or requiring systemic glucocorticoid administration
• Current alcohol use exceeding 14 drinks per week in women, exceeding 21 drinks per week in men, having treatment for alcohol abuse in the last year, or having treatment for alcohol abuse more than 1 year ago (but with inability to refrain from alcohol in the past year)
• Use of illegal drugs or marijuana within 1-month of completing a Screening Visit; treatment for drug addiction in the 1-year or having treatment for drug addiction >1-year ago, but with an inability to refrain from the drug of addiction in the 1-year
• Unwilling to abstain from illegal drugs and marijuana for the duration of the study
• Contraindication for MRI (e.g., metal objects, claustrophobia, etc.)
• Psychotic mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar, on-and- off use of anti-psychotic medication)
• History of cardiovascular disease (or diseases of the heart, lungs, or blood) that limits participation in moderate to vigorous physical activity
• History of liver, blood, kidney, thyroid or other diseases that limits moderate to vigorous physical activity at the time of enrollment
• Cancer that limits moderate to vigorous physical activity
• Treatment with systemic immunosuppressant medication
• Taking adrenergic stimulants (e.g., amphetamine) or adrenergic blockers (e.g., Propanolol) that will alter metabolic rate
• Have plans to substantially alter their current level of physical activity over the next 1-month

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Highly Active	Brain Health Assessments	Older adults who have a highly active lifestyle.
Inactive	Brain Health Assessments	Older adults who have a sedentary or under-active lifestyle.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Plasma concentrations of GPLD1	1 day	Plasma GPLD1 (by a blood draw) is performed.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Physical activity level	7 days	Physical activity level assessment (by accelerometry) is performed.
Brain activity and function	1 day	Brain activity and function (by functional MRI) during execution of two cognitive tasks (Stroop Task and Attention Network Task (ANT)) is performed.
Total grey matter volume	1 day	Total grey matter volume (by structural MRI) is performed.
Cognitive function	1 day	Cognitive function testing (using the NIH Toolbox Cognitive Battery) is performed.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Pennington Biomedical Research Center; 🇺🇸 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States