Cognitive Benefits of Aerobic Exercise Across the Age Span
Overview
- Phase
- N/A
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Cognitive Function
- Sponsor
- New York State Psychiatric Institute
- Enrollment
- 305
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change from baseline in measures of executive control function and episodic memory at 6 months
- Status
- Completed
- Last Updated
- 7 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that aerobic exercise leads improved cognitive function accompanied by increases in gray matter density and changes in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) patterns of task-related activation.
Detailed Description
While animal and human studies indicate cognitive benefits from aerobic exercise across the lifespan, the great majority of controlled exercise studies in humans have been restricted to elderly individuals. Those studies have indicated that enhancing aerobic capacity has a beneficial effect on cognition. One study suggests that this benefit is seen particularly for executive control processes, precisely the processes affected by aging. These improvements have been accompanied by increases in gray matter density and changes in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) patterns of task-related activation. The goal of the proposed study is to extend the investigation of the beneficial effects of aerobic exercise to younger individuals, and to compare these effects in young and old. In this application the study team propose to conduct a study in which 270 sedentary but otherwise healthy and cognitively intact individuals in the 20-68 year age range are randomized to two training conditions, aerobic exercise and stretching/toning, to be completed at YMCAs and YMHAs in New York City. Participants will be assessed for aerobic capacity, cognitive task performance, and by structural MRI, resting cerebral blood flow scans (arterial spin labeling) and cognitive activation fMRI studies at study entry and after 6 months of training. The study also proposes two complementary approaches to investigating the neural correlates of the beneficial effects of aerobic exercise on cognition: 1) imaging -- a combination of structural, metabolic, and cognitive activation fMRI studies to evaluate the neural substrates of the effect of aerobic exercise on cognition will be used. 2) important correlates -- the effects of apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype, inflammatory markers and cognitive reserve on the cognitive effects of aerobic exercise will be explored.
Investigators
Richard Sloan
Division Chief
New York State Psychiatric Institute
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •English-speaking
- •strongly right-handed
- •Pre-menopausal (women only): no oral contraceptive use Post-menopausal: no estrogen replacement therapy
- •sedentary: VO2 max \< 41 and 31.6 ml/kg/min for men age 20-40 and 50-68 and \< 35.2 and 26.6 ml/kg/min for women age 20-40 and 50-68 respectively
- •participants over age 60 must have ECG within past 3 months
Exclusion Criteria
- •MRI contraindications (e.g., metallic implants, pacemaker, weight \> 350 lbs, waist \> 55")
- •Hearing impaired/hearing aids, unable to read newspaper at arm's length with corrective lenses
- •Objective cognitive impairment
- •Ischemic changes, abnormal blood pressure responses, or any significant ectopy during aerobic capacity testing
- •Cardiovascular disease
- •Uncontrolled high blood pressure (systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg; or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 90 mmHg on two measures)
- •Current or recent (evidence of disease x 5 years) non-skin neoplastic disease or melanoma
- •Active hepatic disease (not a history of hepatitis) or primary renal disease requiring dialysis, primary untreated endocrine diseases, e.g., Cushing's disease or primary hypothalamic failure or insulin dependent diabetes (Type I or II).
- •HIV infection
- •Pregnant or lactating (participation allowed 3 months after ceasing lactation
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change from baseline in measures of executive control function and episodic memory at 6 months
Time Frame: 24 weeks
tests of global intelligence, executive function, working memory and processing speed
Secondary Outcomes
- Change from baseline in brain structure, resting cerebral blood flow and network efficiency at 6 months(24 weeks)
- Change from baseline in measures of executive control function and episodic memory at 1 year(48 weeks)
- Change from baseline in measures of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha, C-reactive protein at 6 months(Baseline and 24 weeks)
- Change from baseline in aerobic capacity at 6 months(24 weeks)