Aerobic Exercise and Cerebrovascular Function (NCT03803904) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Aerobic Exercise and Cerebrovascular Function
United States37 participantsStarted 2019-04-01
Plain-language summary
This proposal will evaluate two brain health measures, cerebrovascular perfusion and cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), before and after a proven, interval-based, aerobic exercise intervention in older Veterans. The hypothesis is that the 12-week aerobic exercise intervention (Spin) will increase perfusion and improve CVR in brain regions susceptible to age-related decline. This information will inform the impact of exercise on cerebrovascular health which is known to be negatively impacted in aging and implicated in the development of neurodegenerative disease. This information will also aid the investigators' continued efforts of clinical implementation of evidence-based exercise interventions in the local Atlanta VA and surround region.
Who can participate
Age range
65 Years – 80 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Adults aged 65-80 who do not regularly exercise
* defined as exercising less than 20 minutes twice per week
* Are willing and able to cooperate with assessments and interventions
* Participant will be quantified at or below the "poor" range for cardiovascular fitness as assessed by a volume of oxygen (VO2) test
* 26.0 ml/kg/min for males
* 21.0 ml/kg/min for females)
* 26 on the MoCA to meet the criteria for cognitively intact
* Participants will be free from diseases affecting cognition or that would interfere with their ability to engage in aerobic exercise - including but not limited to:
* chronic heart
* liver
* kidney disease
* Free from diseases/injuries directly affecting brain functions - including but not limited to:
* significant closed head injury
* open intracranial wounds
* stroke
* epilepsy
* degenerative diseases of the nervous system
* All subjects will speak English as a primary language and will have at minimum a high school diploma so that behavioral/cognitive measures reflect effects of aging and aerobic exercise and not unfamiliarity with the English language or a lack of education
Exclusion Criteria:
* Potential participants with major psychiatric disorder - including but not limited to:
* psychosis
* major depression
* bipolar disorder
* Individuals with ongoing drug or alcohol abuse and severe hypertension (systolic BP \> 200 or diastolic BP \> 110 mm Hg or subjects taking three or more antihype…
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Cerebrovascular Reactivity (CVR) Using a Hypercapnic CO2 Response Test Change
Timeframe: At the Pre-intervention assessment and 12-weeks following at the Post intervention assessment