Aerobic Exercise and Cognitive Training in Patients With Stroke

NCT ID: NCT05735405

Last Updated: 2023-02-21

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

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

30 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-11-12

Study Completion Date

2023-05-31

Brief Summary

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The goal of this clinical trial is to test the effects of aerobic exercise and BDNF on patients with ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke during a computerized cognitive training.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. Does a moderate intensity aerobic exercise, prior to a cognitive training, allow a better performance?
2. Is it possible to exploit the timing of rehabilitation interventions to obtain greater effects? Participants will be divided in 2 groups. The experimental group will first perform 20 minutes of pedaling as a moderate intensity aerobic exercise. It will then participate in one-hour cognitive training sessions, with the aim of training attentional, working memory and executive functions. The control group will carry out the same interventions but in reverse order.

The researchers will compare the results of the cognitive training in the two groups to verify if the order of the interventions influences the results themselves.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Ischemic Stroke Hemorrhagic Stroke

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

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Experimental Group

The experimental group will first perform 30 minutes of pedaling as a moderate intensity aerobic activity. Subsequently it will carry out a daily cognitive training of 60 minutes to improve attentional, working memory and executive functions.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Neuropsychological evaluation

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Each participant will undergo a complete neuropsychological evaluation, both before and at the end of the clinical trial, with the aim of detecting any changes or improvements.

BDNF evaluation

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

During the first and last clinical trial session, each participant will undergo two blood samples, one before and one at the end of the ride, to check levels of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF).

Pedaling as a moderate intensity aerobic exercise

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

During each session, each participant will perform 30 minutes of pedaling as a form of moderate intensity physical activity.

Cognitive Training

Intervention Type OTHER

During each session, each participant will carry out 60 minutes of cognitive training through specific exercises for the attentional, executive and working memory functions.

VO2 assessment

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

To determine the individual moderate intensity for each patient, a VO2 consumption assessment will be made. The examination will be carried out using an exercise bike and a mask for the calculation of metabolic oxygen consumption.

The 3 MET threshold to reach in pedaling will be calculated (to define it of moderate intensity), in order to elicit the release of BDNF.

Control Group

The control group will first carry out a daily 60-minute cognitive training to improve attentional, working memory and executive functions. It will then perform 30 minutes of pedaling as a moderate intensity aerobic activity.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Neuropsychological evaluation

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Each participant will undergo a complete neuropsychological evaluation, both before and at the end of the clinical trial, with the aim of detecting any changes or improvements.

BDNF evaluation

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

During the first and last clinical trial session, each participant will undergo two blood samples, one before and one at the end of the ride, to check levels of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF).

Pedaling as a moderate intensity aerobic exercise

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

During each session, each participant will perform 30 minutes of pedaling as a form of moderate intensity physical activity.

Cognitive Training

Intervention Type OTHER

During each session, each participant will carry out 60 minutes of cognitive training through specific exercises for the attentional, executive and working memory functions.

VO2 assessment

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

To determine the individual moderate intensity for each patient, a VO2 consumption assessment will be made. The examination will be carried out using an exercise bike and a mask for the calculation of metabolic oxygen consumption.

The 3 MET threshold to reach in pedaling will be calculated (to define it of moderate intensity), in order to elicit the release of BDNF.

Interventions

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Neuropsychological evaluation

Each participant will undergo a complete neuropsychological evaluation, both before and at the end of the clinical trial, with the aim of detecting any changes or improvements.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

BDNF evaluation

During the first and last clinical trial session, each participant will undergo two blood samples, one before and one at the end of the ride, to check levels of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF).

Intervention Type BIOLOGICAL

Pedaling as a moderate intensity aerobic exercise

During each session, each participant will perform 30 minutes of pedaling as a form of moderate intensity physical activity.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Cognitive Training

During each session, each participant will carry out 60 minutes of cognitive training through specific exercises for the attentional, executive and working memory functions.

Intervention Type OTHER

VO2 assessment

To determine the individual moderate intensity for each patient, a VO2 consumption assessment will be made. The examination will be carried out using an exercise bike and a mask for the calculation of metabolic oxygen consumption.

The 3 MET threshold to reach in pedaling will be calculated (to define it of moderate intensity), in order to elicit the release of BDNF.

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Patients with a clinical diagnosis of stroke, both ischemic and haemorrhagic.
* Patients admitted to the Specialist Rehabilitation Unit 1 of the "E. Spalenza - Don Gnocchi "of Rovato.
* Overall score in the MoCA test ³ 26
* In case of a diagnosis of aphasia, a test of verbal comprehension ("Token Test") with score in the norm, P.E. \> 1
* Hypertonic and spasticity picture compatible with the performance of motor activity of pedaling expected in the EA session.
* Tolerance of physical exercise
* Incoming electrocardiogram normal and free of anomalies

Exclusion Criteria

* Overall score in the MoCA test \<26
* In case of a diagnosis of aphasia, a test of verbal comprehension ("Token Test") with pathological or borderline score, P.E. £ 1.
* Documented diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases with impact on performance cognitive.
* Severe acquired brain injury
* Illiteracy
* Status of hypertonus and spasticity not compatible with the performance of motor training
* Excessive fatigue: the patient does not tolerate moderate intensity physical activity and accuses excessive fatigue during the preliminary test
* Electrocardiogram at entrance with anomalies and / or altered
* Ischemic heart disease
* Cardiac disorders that are contraindications for aerobic activity of moderate intensity
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

80 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi Onlus

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Locations

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Centro Ettore Spalenza- Fondazione Don Gnocchi

Rovato, Brescia, Italy

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Italy

Facility Contacts

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Alessandra Redolfi

Role: primary

+039 030/7245419

Valentina Beccati

Role: backup

References

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Reference Type BACKGROUND
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Other Identifiers

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Version 1; 01/09/22

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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