NCT01944761

The Neuro-protective Effects of Exercise in Children With Brain Tumors

The Neuro-protective Effects of Exercise in Children Treated With Cranial Radiation for Brain Tumors

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 32 (actual)
• Sponsor: The Hospital for Sick Children · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 7 Years – 17 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The objectives of our proposed study are to (a) evaluate the feasibility of conducting a structured exercise program in children treated with cranial radiation for brain tumors, (b) test whether exercise results in improved thinking skills and emotional function, and (c) examine potential mechanisms of improved outcome, particularly recovery of white matter and grey matter.

Detailed description

Brain tumors are the leading cause of death and disability from childhood disease in developed countries. With treatment advances over the last 25 years, survival rates have improved dramatically. However, survival is often achieved at considerable cost. Cranial radiation is frequently required for effective tumor control, and is associated with significant neuro-toxicity, including white matter damage and cognitive morbidity. In order to achieve the best possible outcome for survivors, and ultimately conquer the long-term consequences of this disease, new interventions must be developed to ameliorate the neuro-toxic effects experienced by children. radiation injury can now be used to guide the development of interventions designed to rescue neural tissue. Furthermore, various new agents and activities with potential to stimulate neuro-recovery are now available. The potential value of exercise for rescuing the brain from neuro-toxic effects, for instance, has recently been reported. Next, neuro-cognitive processes that are particularly sensitive to the effects of cranial radiation have been identified and can serve as behavioral assays to test the effectiveness of these new interventions. Finally, novel neuro-imaging tools are available to perform in vivo evaluations in order to delineate potential mechanisms of neuro-recovery. We intend to integrate these new research findings to develop and evaluate a physical exercise-based intervention targeted at rescuing brain tissue of children with brain tumors from the neuro-toxic impact of cranial radiation.

Conditions

• Brain Tumor

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Exercise Program	Designed to improve cardio-respiratory fitness, the exercise program will be conducted for 12 weeks at a frequency of 3-4 sessions per week. Each exercise session will be conducted after school for a total duration of 90 minutes (group sessions) or 30 minutes (home-based sessions). Group session activities will include i) warm-up (i.e. walk/jog, games) \[10 mins\], ii) aerobic training/fitness games \[30 mins\], iii) organized sports \[30 mins\], iv) cool down (i.e. stretching, low intensity games) \[10 mins\] and v) snack and reward (15 mins). Participants in the Group setting had three 90-minute group sessions per week. Participants in the Combined setting had two 90-minute group sessions and two 30-minute individual home-based sessions per week.

Timeline

• Start date: 2011-02-03
• Primary completion: 2015-03-16
• Completion: 2015-03-16
• First posted: 2013-09-18
• Last updated: 2025-07-16

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada