Home-Based Exercise in Primary Progressive Aphasia (HEPPA)

NCT ID: NCT06181500

Last Updated: 2025-02-06

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

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

13 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-04-05

Study Completion Date

2024-08-31

Brief Summary

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This pilot study aims to evaluate the feasibility of a novel home-based multicomponent exercise program in adults clinically diagnosed with Primary Progressive Aphasia

Detailed Description

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Exercise is known to induce changes in brain neuroplasticity in the elderly and is thought to have a protective effect against cognitive decline in patients already suffering from neurodegenerative diseases. While the benefits of exercise in the context of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease have been extensively studied, little information is available on the potential benefits of exercise for other atypical neurodegenerative diseases, such as primary progressive aphasia (PPA). A multimodal exercise intervention (combination of aerobic and resistance exercises) could potentially slow overall cognitive decline in PPA, which is characterized by a gradual and isolated dissolution of language function, by promoting neurogenesis and neuroplasticity. In healthy but inactive older adults, exercise increases grey and white matter volume in prefrontal and temporal cortical regions, which are specifically impaired in PPA and play an important role in executive functions, episodic memory and language skills. Exercise could thus modulate certain executive, memory and language difficulties generally observed in this clinical population. This pilot study aims to evaluate the feasibility of a novel home-based multicomponent exercise program in adults clinically diagnosed with any of the three main variants of PPA (semantic, non-fluent/agrammatic or logopenic). The feasibility outcomes will be based on: 1) total recruitment and recruitment rate, 2) program completion rate, 3) compliance and 4) participants' ability to train at home with or without a caregivers' presence. A minimum of 12 participants will be recruited through McGill University's Douglas Research Institute and will complete a 6-month home-based multimodal intervention program. They will train two to three times a week for 45 minutes and be supervised via videoconference by a kinesiologist from the EPIC Center at the Montreal Heart Institute. If desired, participants will be accompanied by a partner, close friend, or relative to facilitate communication, especially if they have difficulty understanding instructions or expressing themselves. To assess changes in cognition, physical and psychological functions, participants will complete neuropsychological and functional assessments in-person at baseline. These assessments will also be completed at three and six months post-intervention. The knowledge gained from this pilot project will be used to assess the feasibility of a full randomized control trial aimed at assessing the effects of multimodal exercise intervention in PPA patients. Ultimately, an increased understanding of the potential beneficial effects of physical exercise in PPA will allow for more tailored rehabilitative approaches in this clinical population.

Conditions

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Primary Progressive Aphasia Neurodegenerative Diseases Logopenic Progressive Aphasia Semantic Dementia Non-fluent Aphasia

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Home-based multicomponent exercise intervention program

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Home-based multicomponent exercise intervention program

Intervention Type OTHER

A novel home-based multicomponent exercise intervention program was designed using a multimodal training circuit. This 24-week circuit program was created to improve functional (resistance) and aerobic health. Participants will be asked to train two to three times a week for 45 minutes. They will be supervised via videoconference by a trained kinesiologist from the EPIC Center at the Montreal Heart Institute. If desired, participants can complete their exercises with a partner, friend, or relative to facilitate communication. Participants will be asked to document the perceived intensity of their exercises in a booklet after each workout. The perceived intensity of their exercises will be measured by a validated effort perception scale graduated from 0 to 10 (Borg scale; Williams, 2017). Progressions will increase every five weeks and will be subject to modification if not properly tolerated or if found to be below a 3 on the Borg rate of perceived exertion scale (moderate intensity).

Interventions

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Home-based multicomponent exercise intervention program

A novel home-based multicomponent exercise intervention program was designed using a multimodal training circuit. This 24-week circuit program was created to improve functional (resistance) and aerobic health. Participants will be asked to train two to three times a week for 45 minutes. They will be supervised via videoconference by a trained kinesiologist from the EPIC Center at the Montreal Heart Institute. If desired, participants can complete their exercises with a partner, friend, or relative to facilitate communication. Participants will be asked to document the perceived intensity of their exercises in a booklet after each workout. The perceived intensity of their exercises will be measured by a validated effort perception scale graduated from 0 to 10 (Borg scale; Williams, 2017). Progressions will increase every five weeks and will be subject to modification if not properly tolerated or if found to be below a 3 on the Borg rate of perceived exertion scale (moderate intensity).

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* A clinical diagnosis of Primary Progressive Aphasia
* Fluent in French or English
* Able to read, understand and sign the information and consent form
* Have access to the internet
* Have access to a tablet (i.e. iPad or Android) or a computer

Exclusion Criteria

* Any absolute and relative contraindication to exercise testing and/or physical training (e.g., any severe musculoskeletal disease impairing their mobility)
* Any severe respiratory disease (e.g., asthma, COPD, COVID-19)
* Any severe exercise intolerance
Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Montreal Heart Institute

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Louis Bherer

Director of the EPIC Center and Scientist, Montreal Heart Institute

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Louis Bherer

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Centre ÉPIC, Institut de cardiologie de Montréal

Locations

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Preventive medicine and physical activity centre (centre EPIC), Montreal Heart Institute

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Site Status

McGill University Research Centre for Studies in Aging (MCSA)

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Site Status

Countries

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Canada

References

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Other Identifiers

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MP-33-2022-3114

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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