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Completed

NCT Number: NCT00690183

Relationship Between Physical Activity and Stem Cells in Older Adults

This is a pilot study to develop a collaborative, translational research project investigating whether physical activity may in part exert a positive influence on aging via the mobilization of stem cells. Preliminary data will be collected to explore the relationship between physical activity and stem cell populations found in the blood. The study hypothesis is that stem cell decrease with age, but that persons who are more physically active will have a higher number of stem cells in the blood. The first assessment will include an evaluation of health, physical activity and lifestyle via questionnaires. Height, weight and abdominal girth will be measured, and blood will be drawn for immune and stem cell assessment. Participants will be given a pedometer and accelerometer to wear daily for 7 days. Participants will return for a second visit at which the pedometer and accelerometer will be returned and blood will be drawn. Stem cell and immune assays will be repeated to evaluate the variability of these measures over time. The correlation between stem cell numbers and physical activity will be analyzed.

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Key information

Conditions

Aging Behavior Motor Activity

Age range

60 year–105 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

University of Nebraska Medical Center

Omaha, Nebraska, 68198, United States

About this study

Increased numbers of circulating stem cells and physical activity are both associated with improved health in older persons. This pilot study is the initial step in developing a collaborative, translational research project investigating whether physical activity may in part exert a positive influence on aging via the mobilization of stem cells. The specific aim of this pilot project is to collect preliminary data to explore the relationship between physical activity and stem cell populations found in the blood and to determine the variance in the number of circulating stem cells. We hypothesize that stem cell decrease with age, but that persons who are more physically active will have a higher number of stem cells in the blood. A maximum of 40 persons will be recruited to participate. Persons are eligible to participate if they are age 60 or older, haven't been hospitalized recently, do not have an immunologic or blood disease, do not have an infection, and are not undergoing chemotherapy. Subjects will have 2 visits to the UNMC Clinical Research Center (CRC). The first assessment will include an evaluation of health, physical activity and lifestyle via questionnaires. Height, weight and abdominal girth will be measured, and blood will be drawn for immune and stem cell assessment. Subjects will be given a pedometer and accelerometer to wear daily for 7 days. Subjects will return to the CRC for a second visit at which the pedometer and accelerometer will be returned and blood will be drawn. Stem cell and immune assays will be repeated to evaluate the variability of these measures over time. The correlation between stem cell numbers and physical activity will be analyzed. The data will be used to perform sample size calculations for the development of future studies.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • 60 years of age or older

Exclusion criteria

  • Hospitalization within 2 months prior
  • Immunological disease
  • Hematopoietic disease
  • No current infection
  • No current chemotherapy

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. circulating stem cells

    Time frame: upon enrollment, one week later

    Number of circulating stem cells determined by lab

  2. physical activity

    Time frame: upon enrollment

    physical activity as reported

Secondary outcomes

  1. alcohol consumption

    Time frame: upon enrollment

    alcohol consumption as reported

  2. smoking history

    Time frame: upon enrollment

    smoking history as reported

  3. plasma cytokine levels

    Time frame: upon enrollment, one later

    plasma cytokine levels determined by lab

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Nebraska

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2008
Primary completion
2008
Study completion
2008
First posted
Jun 4, 2008
Registry last updated
Sep 28, 2023

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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