Exercise-Induced Lactate and Cognitive Function (ExLBC)

Not Applicable

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Lactate; Exercise; Sodium Bicarbonate; Cognition

• Registration Number: NCT06817681
• Lead Sponsor: McMaster University

Brief Summary

A single bout of exercise can rapidly improve cognitive functions including memory, attention, and executive functions, which help us navigate through everyday life. However, we do not fully understand the mechanism behind this process. A promising candidate mechanism is lactate, which was previously considered merely a waste product of our muscles during exercise. It is now recognized as an important molecule that is used by the brain as an energy source. Studies have shown that increases in lactate during exercise are positively related to improved cognitive function after completion of exercise. Another potential mechanism involves the increase in neurotrophins such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) following exercise. The increase in lactate and BDNF during exercise may be connected to cause these cognitive improvements.

However, because lactate increases with higher exercise intensities, we currently do not know how lactate specifically impacts brain health. To address this, muscle and blood lactate concentrations can be experimentally manipulated during exercise using sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) supplementation and will allow us to explore how lactate specifically affects brain function.

The purpose of this project is to investigate the effect of exercise-induced lactate on BDNF and cognition following oral NaHCO3 supplementation in young adults. We hypothesize that BDNF levels will be higher, and cognition will be improved in executive function, visuospatial memory, and working memory in the NaHCO3 condition due to higher plasma lactate during exercise compared to placebo.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2024-08
• Study First Submitted: 2025-02-04
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-02-04
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-02-04
• Study Start: 2025-02-10
• Study First Posted: 2025-02-10
• Last Update Posted: 2025-02-10
• Primary Completion: 2025-07-30
• Study Completion: 2025-09-20

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 32

Inclusion Criteria

• Between the ages of 18-35 years old.
• Perform ≥150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity per week.

Exclusion Criteria

• Diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes.
• Presence of hypoglycaemia.
• History of concussion(s) with persistent symptoms.
• History of mental health conditions.
• History of cardiovascular events requiring hospitalization (e.g., heart attack).
• Pre-existing injuries that prevent completion of aerobic exercise.
• Presence of colour-blindness.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Cognitive Function (Executive Function)	3-hour	The Stroop Task will be used to measure executive function (selective attention and inhibitory control).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Cognitive Function (Working Memory)	3-hour	The N-Back Test will be used to assess working memory.
Cognitive Function (Visuospatial Memory)	3-hour	The Spatial Span Test will be used to assess visuospatial memory.
Blood Lactate	3-hour	Venous blood samples will be obtained via intravenous catheter.
Blood pH	3-hour	Venous blood samples will be obtained via intravenous catheter.
Sodium Bicarbonate (NaHCO3)	3-hour	Venous blood samples will be obtained via intravenous catheter.
Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)	3-hour	Serum and plasma BDNF measured in venous blood samples will be obtained via intravenous catheter.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

McMaster University; 🇨🇦 Hamilton, Ontario, Canada