NCT00220467

Cognitive Effects of Aerobic Exercise for MCI Adults

Cognitive Effects of Aerobic Exercise for Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Controlled Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Seattle Institute for Biomedical and Clinical Research · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 55 Years – 90 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The specific aims for the study will be to determine if aerobic exercise enhances cognition for older adults who are at greater risk for developing Alzheimer's disease, and to evaluate whether change in insulin sensitivity predicts cognitive performance for subjects randomized to the aerobic exercise group. Sedentary older adults diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment will participate in a 6-month supervised protocol of either aerobic exercise or stretching. Cognitive testing and blood collection will occur at baseline, and months 3 and 6. Before and after the 6-month intervention, insulin sensitivity, maximum aerobic capacity, and body fat composition and distribution (via CT scan) will be assessed for all subjects. The results of this study may provide support for a relatively simple and inexpensive treatment strategy that specifically targets many of the health factors that directly influence risk of cognitive decline for older adults.

Detailed description

The specific aims for the study are 1) to determine if aerobic exercise enhances cognition for older adults with mild cognitive impairment, 2) to evaluate whether change in insulin sensitivity predicts cognitive performance for subjects in the aerobic exercise group, and 3) to relate exercise effects on insulin sensitivity and cognition to growth factor expression, inflammatory markers, catecholamines, beta-amyloid, and body-fat composition. Using a randomized controlled parallel group design, 40 sedentary older adults diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment will participate in a 6-month supervised protocol of either aerobic exercise or stretching. Cognitive testing and blood collection will occur at baseline, and months 3 and 6. Before and after the 6-month intervention, insulin sensitivity (via hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp), maximum aerobic capacity (via respiratory gas exchange and cardiopulmonary fitness measures), and body fat composition (via DEXA scan) and distribution (via CT scan) will be assessed for all subjects. The results of this study may provide support for a relatively simple and inexpensive treatment strategy that specifically targets many of the health factors that directly influence risk of cognitive decline for older adults.

Conditions

• Mild Cognitive Impairment

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Aerobic exercise

Timeline

• Start date: 2005-01-01
• Primary completion: 2008-04-01
• Completion: 2008-05-01
• First posted: 2005-09-22
• Last updated: 2008-07-30

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: United States