Effects of Acute Exercise Intensity on Cerebral Blood Flow and Cognitive Function in Older Adults

NCT ID: NCT05131217

Last Updated: 2023-11-29

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

13 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-01-14

Study Completion Date

2023-05-01

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

This study will analyze the influence of acute bout exercise intensities (continuous moderate and HIIT) on middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv) to identify which intensity elicits the greatest increase in CBF in older adults (65+ yrs). Additionally, this study will help verify positive correlations between MCAv and cognitive function. These findings are important in determining the optimal exercise prescription for increased resilience against the age-related cognitive degradation.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

With an increasingly aging population, it is paramount that we further understand the changes that occur during aging, especially those which contribute to cognitive decline. Evidence shows that cognitive function is closely linked to brain blood flow. When comparing cerebral blood flow (CBF) between old and young individuals, older adults appear to have lower baseline levels of CBF. One of the principle determinants of CBF is CO2. Since exercise results in rises in CO2 production, changes in CBF can be monitored. Older adults appear to have diminished changes in CBF compared to younger individuals during moderate intensity exercise. This then leads to the idea that older adults may need a greater exercise stimulus (i.e. HIIT) to see these changes in CBF. However, the effects of HIIT on CBF in older adults is largely unstudied.

Purpose: To analyze the acute influence of HIIT on middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv) in older adults, and to verify the positive association between MCAv and cognitive function.

Experimental Design: Recruiting 16 healthy adults age 65 and older. The study will require each participant to report to 4 visits: a screening visit, a control, a moderate intensity exercise bout, and a high intensity exercise bout. The order of the experimental visits will be randomized to each subject, and exercise bouts will be work-matched. During the experimental visits, MCAv, end-tidal CO2, MAP, and HR will be measured continuously. Vascular measures such as pulse wave analysis and pulse wave velocity will be taken pre- and post-exercise. Additionally, blood flow through the internal carotid artery and cognitive measures (n-back test) will be measured and administered pre-exercise, and at 15 mins, 30 mins, and 45 mins post-exercise. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA will be used to determine significant differences for time (pre vs. post measures) x condition (control/moderate/HIIT).

Results: In the process of collecting data.

Implications: If the study is successful in its findings, this could change how exercise is prescribed to older adults. It could also lead to the question regarding if a greater exercise stimulus (i.e. SIT) may be even more beneficial for these individuals.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Aging Well

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

This is a repeated measures cross-over design, in which all subjects will complete all acute exercise intensity conditions: HIIT, continuous moderate intensity at lactate threshold (LT), and rest (control). The order of the acute treatment bouts will be randomized for each subject over three experimental visits (not counting the screening visit).
Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors
The individual analyzing study data will be blind to subject allocation.

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Acute bout of Continuous Moderate Intensity Exercise

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Acute bout of Continuous Moderate Intensity Exercise

Intervention Type OTHER

In this experimental intervention subjects will cycle continuously at moderate intensity (VO2 corresponding to lactate threshold) until a 200 kcal equivalent energy expenditure is reached.

Acute bout of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Acute bout of High Intensity Interval Training

Intervention Type OTHER

In this experimental invention subjects will alternate between 1 minute of high intensity cycling (watts corresponding to 85% VO2peak) and 1 minute of low intensity cycling (watts corresponding to 35-40% VO2peak) until a 200 kcal equivalent energy expenditure is reached.

Control

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Control

Intervention Type OTHER

In this intervention placebo, subjects will lay down on a flat, soft surface for 30 minutes in a dimly light room. They will not be allowed to use any electronic devices or read during this time to avoid potentially influencing continuous data recording.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Acute bout of Continuous Moderate Intensity Exercise

In this experimental intervention subjects will cycle continuously at moderate intensity (VO2 corresponding to lactate threshold) until a 200 kcal equivalent energy expenditure is reached.

Intervention Type OTHER

Acute bout of High Intensity Interval Training

In this experimental invention subjects will alternate between 1 minute of high intensity cycling (watts corresponding to 85% VO2peak) and 1 minute of low intensity cycling (watts corresponding to 35-40% VO2peak) until a 200 kcal equivalent energy expenditure is reached.

Intervention Type OTHER

Control

In this intervention placebo, subjects will lay down on a flat, soft surface for 30 minutes in a dimly light room. They will not be allowed to use any electronic devices or read during this time to avoid potentially influencing continuous data recording.

Intervention Type OTHER

Other Intervention Names

Discover alternative or legacy names that may be used to describe the listed interventions across different sources.

HIIT Rest

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* 65+ years of age
* Comfortable with experiencing exercise-induced fatigue
* Willingness and ability to comply with scheduled visits and study procedures
* Able to provide consent on their own behalf
* Type 2 Diabetics accepted

Exclusion Criteria

* Competitive athlete (Recreationally active is okay but no more than 3 days/week of structured exercise)
* VO2max below 18 ml/kg/min in men, 15ml/kg/min in women (minimum thresholds for independent living seniors)
* Inability of study staff to acquire signal from the MCA using TCD
* Diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment, Parkinson's Disease, Alzheimer's Disease, multiple sclerosis, or psychiatric illness (unless mild depression or anxiety)
* History of brain damage/stroke/concussions
* Cardiovascular Disease, Pulmonary Disease, or dependence of supplemental O2
* Type 2 Diabetics who aren't cleared by the study physician during the first screening visit (HbA1C \> 8.5%)
* Neuromuscular or musculoskeletal dysfunctions impairing one from cycling
* Changes in vasoactive medication dose or quantity, recently prior to or during the study time course, or inability to maintain regular timed ingestion of vasoactive medication
* Currently involved in Estrogen or Testosterone Replacement Therapy
* Unable to abstain from food consumption (3hrs), caffeine/alcohol consumption (12hrs), and vigorous exercise (24hrs) prior to experimental procedures
Minimum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

University of Virginia

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Jason Allen

Professor of Exercise Physiology at the University of Virginia, Director of the Exercise Physiology Graduate Program & Co-Director of the Applied Metabolism & Physiology Lab

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Jason Allen, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Virginia

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

University of Virginia; Kinesiology Labs

Charlottesville, Virginia, United States

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Thudium M, Heinze I, Ellerkmann RK, Hilbert T. Cerebral Function and Perfusion during Cardiopulmonary Bypass: A Plea for a Multimodal Monitoring Approach. Heart Surg Forum. 2018 Jan 31;21(1):E028-E035. doi: 10.1532/hsf.1894.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29485961 (View on PubMed)

Shoemaker LN, Wilson LC, Lucas SJE, Machado L, Thomas KN, Cotter JD. Swimming-related effects on cerebrovascular and cognitive function. Physiol Rep. 2019 Oct;7(20):e14247. doi: 10.14814/phy2.14247.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31637867 (View on PubMed)

Alexandrov AV, Sloan MA, Wong LK, Douville C, Razumovsky AY, Koroshetz WJ, Kaps M, Tegeler CH; American Society of Neuroimaging Practice Guidelines Committee. Practice standards for transcranial Doppler ultrasound: part I--test performance. J Neuroimaging. 2007 Jan;17(1):11-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1552-6569.2006.00088.x.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17238867 (View on PubMed)

Burley CV, Francis ST, Whittaker AC, Mullinger KJ, Lucas SJE. Measuring resting cerebral haemodynamics using MRI arterial spin labelling and transcranial Doppler ultrasound: Comparison in younger and older adults. Brain Behav. 2021 Jul;11(7):e02126. doi: 10.1002/brb3.2126. Epub 2021 May 25.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 34032379 (View on PubMed)

Fan JL, Nogueira RC, Brassard P, Rickards CA, Page M, Nasr N, Tzeng YC. Integrative physiological assessment of cerebral hemodynamics and metabolism in acute ischemic stroke. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2022 Mar;42(3):454-470. doi: 10.1177/0271678X211033732. Epub 2021 Jul 26.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 34304623 (View on PubMed)

Klein T, Sanders M, Wollseiffen P, Carnahan H, Abeln V, Askew CD, Claassen JA, Schneider S. Transient cerebral blood flow responses during microgravity. Life Sci Space Res (Amst). 2020 May;25:66-71. doi: 10.1016/j.lssr.2020.03.003. Epub 2020 Mar 19.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 32414494 (View on PubMed)

Loe H, Rognmo O, Saltin B, Wisloff U. Aerobic capacity reference data in 3816 healthy men and women 20-90 years. PLoS One. 2013 May 15;8(5):e64319. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064319. Print 2013.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23691196 (View on PubMed)

Ogoh S, Ainslie PN. Cerebral blood flow during exercise: mechanisms of regulation. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2009 Nov;107(5):1370-80. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00573.2009. Epub 2009 Sep 3.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19729591 (View on PubMed)

Settakis G, Lengyel A, Molnar C, Bereczki D, Csiba L, Fulesdi B. Transcranial Doppler study of the cerebral hemodynamic changes during breath-holding and hyperventilation tests. J Neuroimaging. 2002 Jul;12(3):252-8.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12116744 (View on PubMed)

Shephard RJ. Maximal oxygen intake and independence in old age. Br J Sports Med. 2009 May;43(5):342-6. doi: 10.1136/bjsm.2007.044800. Epub 2008 Apr 10.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18403414 (View on PubMed)

Jones-Muhammad M, Warrington JP. Redefining the cerebral autoregulatory range of blood pressures: Not as wide as previously reported. Physiol Rep. 2021 Sep;9(17):e15006. doi: 10.14814/phy2.15006.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 34435458 (View on PubMed)

Keating CJ, Parraga Montilla JA, Latorre Roman PA, Moreno Del Castillo R. Comparison of High-Intensity Interval Training to Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training in Older Adults: A Systematic Review. J Aging Phys Act. 2020 Apr 16;28(5):798-807. doi: 10.1123/japa.2019-0111. Print 2020 Oct 1.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 32303000 (View on PubMed)

Smith KJ, Ainslie PN. Regulation of cerebral blood flow and metabolism during exercise. Exp Physiol. 2017 Nov 1;102(11):1356-1371. doi: 10.1113/EP086249. Epub 2017 Sep 30.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 28786150 (View on PubMed)

Calverley TA, Ogoh S, Marley CJ, Steggall M, Marchi N, Brassard P, Lucas SJE, Cotter JD, Roig M, Ainslie PN, Wisloff U, Bailey DM. HIITing the brain with exercise: mechanisms, consequences and practical recommendations. J Physiol. 2020 Jul;598(13):2513-2530. doi: 10.1113/JP275021. Epub 2020 Jun 1.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 32347544 (View on PubMed)

Ogoh S, Tsukamoto H, Hirasawa A, Hasegawa H, Hirose N, Hashimoto T. The effect of changes in cerebral blood flow on cognitive function during exercise. Physiol Rep. 2014 Sep 28;2(9):e12163. doi: 10.14814/phy2.12163. Print 2014 Sep 1.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 25263210 (View on PubMed)

Siasos G, Athanasiou D, Terzis G, Stasinaki A, Oikonomou E, Tsitkanou S, Dimitropoulos S, Kolokytha T, Tzirogiannis K, Giannaki A, Tousoulis D. The Acute Impact of Different Types of Aerobic Exercise on Arterial Wave Reflections and Inflammation. Cardiology. 2016;135(2):81-6. doi: 10.1159/000445993. Epub 2016 Jun 10.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 27287855 (View on PubMed)

Ward JL, Craig JC, Liu Y, Vidoni ED, Maletsky R, Poole DC, Billinger SA. Effect of healthy aging and sex on middle cerebral artery blood velocity dynamics during moderate-intensity exercise. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2018 Sep 1;315(3):H492-H501. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00129.2018. Epub 2018 May 18.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 29775407 (View on PubMed)

Labrecque L, Drapeau A, Rahimaly K, Imhoff S, Billaut F, Brassard P. Comparable blood velocity changes in middle and posterior cerebral arteries during and following acute high-intensity exercise in young fit women. Physiol Rep. 2020 May;8(9):e14430. doi: 10.14814/phy2.14430.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 32342622 (View on PubMed)

Barnes JN, Taylor JL, Kluck BN, Johnson CP, Joyner MJ. Cerebrovascular reactivity is associated with maximal aerobic capacity in healthy older adults. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2013 May 15;114(10):1383-7. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01258.2012. Epub 2013 Mar 7.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 23471946 (View on PubMed)

Billinger SA, Craig JC, Kwapiszeski SJ, Sisante JV, Vidoni ED, Maletsky R, Poole DC. Dynamics of middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity during moderate-intensity exercise. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2017 May 1;122(5):1125-1133. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00995.2016. Epub 2017 Mar 9.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 28280106 (View on PubMed)

Coverdale NS, Lalande S, Perrotta A, Shoemaker JK. Heterogeneous patterns of vasoreactivity in the middle cerebral and internal carotid arteries. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2015 May 1;308(9):H1030-8. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00761.2014. Epub 2015 Feb 27.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 25724496 (View on PubMed)

Gonzalez-Alonso J, Dalsgaard MK, Osada T, Volianitis S, Dawson EA, Yoshiga CC, Secher NH. Brain and central haemodynamics and oxygenation during maximal exercise in humans. J Physiol. 2004 May 15;557(Pt 1):331-42. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2004.060574. Epub 2004 Mar 5.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 15004212 (View on PubMed)

Hoiland RL, Smith KJ, Carter HH, Lewis NCS, Tymko MM, Wildfong KW, Bain AR, Green DJ, Ainslie PN. Shear-mediated dilation of the internal carotid artery occurs independent of hypercapnia. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2017 Jul 1;313(1):H24-H31. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00119.2017. Epub 2017 Apr 7.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 28389602 (View on PubMed)

Lefferts WK, DeBlois JP, Barreira TV, Heffernan KS. Neurovascular coupling during cognitive activity in adults with controlled hypertension. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2018 Dec 1;125(6):1906-1916. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00100.2018. Epub 2018 Jul 26.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 30048202 (View on PubMed)

Lefferts WK, DeBlois JP, Receno CN, Barreira TV, Brutsaert TD, Carhart RL, Heffernan KS. Effects of acute aerobic exercise on arterial stiffness and cerebrovascular pulsatility in adults with and without hypertension. J Hypertens. 2018 Aug;36(8):1743-1752. doi: 10.1097/HJH.0000000000001752.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 29677054 (View on PubMed)

Lie SL, Hisdal J, Hoiseth LO. Cerebral blood flow velocity during simultaneous changes in mean arterial pressure and cardiac output in healthy volunteers. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2021 Aug;121(8):2207-2217. doi: 10.1007/s00421-021-04693-6. Epub 2021 Apr 22.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 33890157 (View on PubMed)

Lucas SJ, Ainslie PN, Murrell CJ, Thomas KN, Franz EA, Cotter JD. Effect of age on exercise-induced alterations in cognitive executive function: relationship to cerebral perfusion. Exp Gerontol. 2012 Aug;47(8):541-51. doi: 10.1016/j.exger.2011.12.002. Epub 2012 Jan 2.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 22230488 (View on PubMed)

Moraine JJ, Lamotte M, Berre J, Niset G, Leduc A, Naeije R. Relationship of middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity to intensity during dynamic exercise in normal subjects. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1993;67(1):35-8. doi: 10.1007/BF00377701.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 8375362 (View on PubMed)

Ogoh S. Relationship between cognitive function and regulation of cerebral blood flow. J Physiol Sci. 2017 May;67(3):345-351. doi: 10.1007/s12576-017-0525-0. Epub 2017 Feb 3.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 28155036 (View on PubMed)

Olivo G, Nilsson J, Garzon B, Lebedev A, Wahlin A, Tarassova O, Ekblom M, Lovden M. Immediate effects of a single session of physical exercise on cognition and cerebral blood flow: A randomized controlled study of older adults. Neuroimage. 2021 Jan 15;225:117500. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117500. Epub 2020 Oct 24.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 33169699 (View on PubMed)

Weaver SR, Skinner BD, Furlong R, Lucas RAI, Cable NT, Rendeiro C, McGettrick HM, Lucas SJE. Cerebral Hemodynamic and Neurotrophic Factor Responses Are Dependent on the Type of Exercise. Front Physiol. 2021 Jan 21;11:609935. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2020.609935. eCollection 2020.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 33551835 (View on PubMed)

Belfort MA, Saade GR, Snabes M, Dunn R, Moise KJ Jr, Cruz A, Young R. Hormonal status affects the reactivity of the cerebral vasculature. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1995 Apr;172(4 Pt 1):1273-8. doi: 10.1016/0002-9378(95)91492-7.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 7726269 (View on PubMed)

Jones RD, Hugh Jones T, Channer KS. The influence of testosterone upon vascular reactivity. Eur J Endocrinol. 2004 Jul;151(1):29-37. doi: 10.1530/eje.0.1510029.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 15248819 (View on PubMed)

Fulesdi B, Limburg M, Bereczki D, Kaplar M, Molnar C, Kappelmayer J, Neuwirth G, Csiba L. Cerebrovascular reactivity and reserve capacity in type II diabetes mellitus. J Diabetes Complications. 1999 Jul-Aug;13(4):191-9. doi: 10.1016/s1056-8727(99)00044-6.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 10616858 (View on PubMed)

Coetsee C, Terblanche E. The effect of three different exercise training modalities on cognitive and physical function in a healthy older population. Eur Rev Aging Phys Act. 2017 Aug 10;14:13. doi: 10.1186/s11556-017-0183-5. eCollection 2017.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 28811842 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

HSR200454

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id