Exercise and Endocannabinoids for Brain and Mental Health

NCT ID: NCT06808490

Last Updated: 2025-02-05

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 68 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-12-21
• Study Completion Date: 2024-03-18

Brief Summary

This study will explore how exercise affects brain chemicals called endocannabinoids, which may improve thinking skills and reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and low mood in children and teens aged 9 to 17. Participants will take part in a single 30-minute activity session, where they will be randomly assigned to one of three groups:

1. Moderate-intensity exercise (walking or running on a treadmill at 50-70% of their maximum heart rate).

2. Light stretching (gentle movements at less than 40% of their maximum heart rate).

3. Seated meditation (relaxing without movement at less than 30% of their maximum heart rate).

The investigators will measure endocannabinoid levels, thinking skills, and mood before and after the activity to see how these activities affect the brain and emotions.

Conditions

Children; Adolescents

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Moderate Intensity Exercise

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Moderate Intensity Exercise

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants randomized to the moderate intensity exercise condition will complete a 30 min session on a motor driven treadmill. Participants will complete a 3-minute warm-up at low speed on a treadmill. Speed and incline will be increased in 3-minute increments until moderate-intensity exercise, defined as the goal of participants staying within a target zone of 50-70% AAMHR while briskly walking and/or jogging depending on current fitness status.

Light Intensity Stretching

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Light Intensity Stretching

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants randomized into the light stretching condition will complete a 30-minute video, tailored for 9-17-year-olds. This video leads participants through a series of seated arm, torso, leg, knee and shoulder stretches on a yoga mat. Participants will be monitored throughout the stretching session by a trained research assistant, and HR and perceived exertion will also be measured throughout. The research assistant may make modifications to the poses in real-time to ensure that AAMHR is kept below 40%.

Seated Meditation

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Seated Meditation

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants randomized into the meditation condition will complete a 30-minute video, tailored for 9-17-year-olds. This video leads participants through a seated guided meditation on a yoga mat. This includes a series of breathing, visualization, and body awareness exercises. Participants will be monitored throughout the meditation session by a trained research assistant, and HR and perceived exertion will also be measured throughout, to ensure that AAMHR is kept below 30%.

Interventions

Moderate Intensity Exercise

Participants randomized to the moderate intensity exercise condition will complete a 30 min session on a motor driven treadmill. Participants will complete a 3-minute warm-up at low speed on a treadmill. Speed and incline will be increased in 3-minute increments until moderate-intensity exercise, defined as the goal of participants staying within a target zone of 50-70% AAMHR while briskly walking and/or jogging depending on current fitness status.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Light Intensity Stretching

Participants randomized into the light stretching condition will complete a 30-minute video, tailored for 9-17-year-olds. This video leads participants through a series of seated arm, torso, leg, knee and shoulder stretches on a yoga mat. Participants will be monitored throughout the stretching session by a trained research assistant, and HR and perceived exertion will also be measured throughout. The research assistant may make modifications to the poses in real-time to ensure that AAMHR is kept below 40%.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Seated Meditation

Participants randomized into the meditation condition will complete a 30-minute video, tailored for 9-17-year-olds. This video leads participants through a seated guided meditation on a yoga mat. This includes a series of breathing, visualization, and body awareness exercises. Participants will be monitored throughout the meditation session by a trained research assistant, and HR and perceived exertion will also be measured throughout, to ensure that AAMHR is kept below 30%.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
• Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and available for the duration of the study
• 9-17 years of age
• Adolescent and parent/guardian are English-speaking, as study assessments are in English
• Right-handed

Exclusion Criteria

• Head injury
• Sensory (e.g., hearing) impairment
• Physical (e.g., motor, balance) impairment
• Physical disabilities
• Neurological disorders
• Any condition that would contraindicate blood draws

• Minimum Eligible Age: 9 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 17 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Wayne State University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Hilary Marusak

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Hilary Marusak

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Wayne State University

Jeanne Barcelona

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Wayne State University

Locations

Tolan Park Medical Building

Detroit, Michigan, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

IRB-21-04-3502

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id