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OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT02068612

Enhancing Function in Later Life: Exercise and Functional Network Connectivity

Physiological and neurocognitive changes experienced as a result of increasing age may influence socioemotional functioning and economic behaviors, yet, the mechanisms through which these changes occur are not well understood. Studies have also shown that aerobic exercise may protect against age-related cognitive decline in other domains. This research is designed to test the hypothesis that aerobic exercise will enhance social, emotional and economic functioning in older adults, and that these effects will occur via the effect of exercise on neurocognitive structure and function assessed via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Advancing our knowledge of the mechanisms that influence emotional, social and economic functioning could inform the development of targeted treatments and prevention programs for older adults.

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Key information

Conditions

Aging

Age range

25 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Colorado Boulder

Boulder, Colorado, 80309, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 25-35 for younger adults, and age 60 or over for older adults
  • Sedentary (i.e., < 60 minutes per week of moderate physical activity in the past 6-months)
  • Able to make fewer than 3 errors on the Pfeiffer Mental Status192
  • Willing to accept random assignment to condition (older adults)
  • Physically capable of safely engaging in moderate exercise activity (i.e., no injuries, physical impairments, or pre-existing contraindications) as assessed by a study physician
  • Able to successfully complete a maximal exercise test without evidence of cardiac or other abnormalities
  • Planning to remain in the Boulder-Denver metro area for the next 4 months (older adults)

Exclusion criteria

  • Are a heavy smoker (>20 pack years)
  • Are diabetic
  • Have a body size exceeding the capacity of the magnetic resonance imaging machine (approximately 23" in diameter)
  • Are on antipsychotic medications
  • Are currently under treatment for any psychiatric disorder, including clinical depression, Alzheimer's, or dementia
  • Are currently pregnant
  • Have magnetic resonance imaging contraindications (i.e., non-removable metallic implants, claustrophobia, traumatic brain injury, current pregnancy, etc.)

Treatment and study plan

Moderate Intensity Continuous Training+Interval Training

Behavioral

Other names: MICT+IT

Low Intensity Continuous Training

Behavioral

Other names: LICT

Primary outcomes

  1. Cognitive Function

    Time frame: 4 months

    • Functional connectivity is measured via having participants lie in a magnetic resonance imaging scanner and passively stare at a centrally-positioned fixation crosshair for 8 min while their brain activity is recorded.
    • Executive function will be measured with 3 tasks characterized by the three domains of executive function: updating, shifting, and inhibition. For updating, we will utilize the Keep Track task,for shifting, we will use the Category Switch Task, and for inhibition we will use the Stroop task.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Colorado, Boulder

Other

Registry information

Acronym: FORCE

Important dates

Study start
2014
Primary completion
2018
Study completion
2018
First posted
Feb 21, 2014
Registry last updated
Mar 27, 2020

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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