AMPLIFI: Adaptive Modulation of Plasticity Through Lactate and Fitness Interventions (NCT06950060) | Clinical Trial Compass
Active — Not RecruitingNot Applicable
AMPLIFI: Adaptive Modulation of Plasticity Through Lactate and Fitness Interventions
United States48 participantsStarted 2026-07-15
Plain-language summary
The AMPLIFI study (Adaptive Modulation of Plasticity through Lactate and Fitness Interventions) investigates how short-term aerobic exercise influences brain plasticity and learning in older adults and stroke survivors. The study compares three groups: one performing aerobic cycling at an intensity that elevates lactate levels, one performing low-intensity exercise, and one receiving health education without exercise.
All participants will complete motor learning tasks and undergo brain-stimulation testing using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to assess how well the brain responds to training. The goal is to understand whether different types of exercise can improve brain function, movement, and memory, and how the body's response to exercise (like lactate levels) might support brain health.
This research may help identify low-cost, non-invasive interventions-such as targeted exercise-that improve motor and cognitive outcomes in aging and stroke recovery.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 85 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:
For All Participants:
* Able to provide informed consent
* Right-handed (for TMS consistency)
* English-speaking
* Clearance for moderate-intensity aerobic exercise
* Able to safely sit and pedal a stationary cycle ergometer
* No contraindications to TMS (e.g., no metal in skull, pacemakers, or seizure history)
Younger Adults (18-35):
* No history of neurological or psychiatric conditions
* Not currently on medications that affect the central nervous system
Older Adults (60-85):
* No diagnosis of dementia
* Independent in activities of daily living
* No stroke history
Stroke Survivors (40-85):
* At least 6 months post-stroke (chronic phase)
* Medically stable and cleared for aerobic exercise
* Able to engage in motor learning task (with or without hemiparetic adaptations)
Exclusion Criteria:
* History of epilepsy or seizures
* Current substance abuse or uncontrolled psychiatric disorder
* Severe cardiovascular disease or unstable medical condition
* Pregnancy
* Contraindications to TMS or exercise testing (e.g., implanted neurostimulators, severe hypertension)
* Participation in another interventional trial within the past 30 days
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.
1This trial is no longer actively recruiting — is there any chance my doctor could still find out if I'd be eligible to join, or is there a similar study I could look into instead?
2The trial is measuring motor learning using something called a 12-Digit Serial Reaction Time Task — can my doctor explain what that test involves and whether my current level of motor dysfunction would even allow me to participate in that kind of assessment?
3Since this trial is listed as 'Phase NA,' meaning it's likely an early exploratory or feasibility study, can my doctor help me understand how much is already known about the safety and real-world benefit of combining lactate and fitness interventions for stroke recovery?
4The trial involves both exercise fitness interventions and something related to lactate — can my doctor explain what the lactate component actually means in practice, and whether that raises any concerns given my specific health history?
5Would my doctor recommend I pursue standard rehabilitation therapies now rather than waiting for a comparable research study to open, and how does the evidence for those compare to what this trial is trying to test?
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
Motor Learning Performance (12-Digit Serial Reaction Time Task)
Timeframe: Baseline, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, and Day 5