NCT07272174

Exercise in Perimenopause to Improve Cognitive Health

Resistance Training and Cognitive Health in Perimenopause

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 50 (estimated)
• Sponsor: University of British Columbia · Academic / Other
• Sex: Female
• Age: 40 Years – 55 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Perimenopause is now considered a possible risk factor for dementia and may contribute to the fact that 2/3 of those living with Alzheimer's disease are females. Indeed, research studies show that middle-aged females demonstrate significant declines in their thinking abilities and detrimental changes in their brains as they go through perimenopause. Thus, perimenopausal females need strategies to bolster their brain health. The World Health Organization strongly recommends physical activity interventions to reduce the risk of decline in thinking abilities. However, whether exercise can improve thinking abilities and brain health in perimenopausal females has not been examined. Our research aims to address this important knowledge gap in female brain health. We will study the effects of a 6-month resistance exercise training (e.g., lifting free weights, exercise with weight machine) program on thinking abilities in 50 physically inactive perimenopausal females, aged 40 to 55 years, who are experiencing difficulties with their thinking abilities. In addition to measuring thinking abilities, we will determine if exercise benefits muscle health, heart health, sleep quality, psychological well-being, menopausal symptoms, and quality of life. We will also explore how resistance exercise training improves thinking abilities as such information can lead to new discoveries and therapies for brain health in females.

Detailed description

1. PURPOSE: To determine if progressive resistance training (PRT) can improve cognitive outcomes compared to balance, flexibility, and tone (BAT) exercises in perimenopausal females aged 40-55 years with subjective cognitive complaints. 2. HYPOTHESIS: At the end of the intervention, PRT will result in an increase in words recalled during the RAVLT 20-minute delay vs no improve in BAT. 3. JUSTIFICATION: The menopause transition (MT) negatively impacts cognitive function and the brain. The majority of perimenopausal females experiences cognitive difficulties and have subjective cognitive complaints (SCCs). Verbal episodic memory and processing speed are most negatively impacted by the MT. Cognitive and brain changes during the MT can significantly impact career and financial wellbeing. The MT is thus a critical window to intervene for female brain health. Exercise can reduce dementia risk factors and promote cognitive health. No published randomized controlled trials have examined the effect of exercise on cognitive outcomes in perimenopausal females. 4. OBJECTIVE: To determine if 26 weeks of 2x/week progressive resistance training (PRT) can improve verbal episodic memory performance on the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) compared with balance, flexibility, and tone exercises (BAT) for physically inactive perimenopausal females aged 40-55. 5. RESEARCH DESIGN: A 26-week, assessor-blinded, two-arm, proof-of-concept trial with 50 physically inactive perimenopausal females, aged 40 to 55 years, with subjective cognitive complaints. Participants will be randomized 1:1 to PRT or BAT and measured at baseline, 13 weeks, and 26 weeks.

Conditions

• Perimenopause
• Subjective Cognitive Complaints

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Progressive Resistance Training	The sessions will occur in the Exercise Prescription Suite of the Centre for Aging SMART at VCH; this suite is a fully-equipped gym that includes treadmills, bikes, pneumatic resistance training equipment, and free weights. The training stimulus will initially be at 3 sets of 10-15 repetitions with proper form. At week 4, training intensity will progress from 60-82% of predicted 1 repetition maximum (RM) using the 8RM method. Every 4 weeks the 8RM test will be repeated.
BEHAVIORAL	Balance, Flexibility, and Tone Exercises	Each BAT session will be 1-hr in duration and consist of Pilates mat exercises, Yoga-based poses and breathing, Kegel exercises, stretches, and relaxation techniques (e.g., visualization).

Timeline

• Start date: 2026-03-30
• Primary completion: 2026-12-15
• Completion: 2027-01-30
• First posted: 2025-12-09
• Last updated: 2026-04-16

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada