Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 Aerobic Exercise Study

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a genetic disease that primarily targets skeletal muscle resulting in severe weakness and muscle loss. As a result, individuals suffering from DM1 become very inactive and lose mobility resulting in a lower quality of life. This study will investigate the effect of a 12-week moderate intensity exercise protocol on skeletal muscle function and cellular benefits in DM1 patients.

The present study is a repeated measures design, with sampling of the cohorts on two separate occasions. Upon obtaining informed consent, participants will be assigned into one of two groups:

Group 1: DM1 Exercise Group DM1 diagnosed, physically inactive males, n = 6 DM1 diagnosed, physically inactive females, n = 7

Group 2: Healthy controls (no exercise) Healthy, physically inactive males n = 6 Healthy, physically inactive females n = 7

Introduction - Day 1 (Visit 1); On the initial visit, the potential participant will come to McMaster Children's Hospital to meet with a study coordinator involved in the project. The coordinator will explain the study in detail, answer any questions, and review the consent form. Upon obtaining informed consent, eligible participants will complete a medical screening questionnaire to determine their readiness to perform exercise. Participant characteristics will then be measured. At this time, anthropometric measurements (i.e., height, weight, waist circumference) and a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurement will be performed. This must be done in order to verify that the participant meets the inclusion criteria of being normal weight (BMI 18.5 - 24.9 kg/m2) or overweight (BMI 25 - 29.9 kg/m2). Following this screening, participants will undergo an ECG to measure any conductance blockage and perform a maximal cycling test to determine their aerobic capacity (V02max). Maximal aerobic testing will then be followed by another 12 lead ECG to detect any possible structural cardiac issues in our participants. Thereafter, participants will begin the following the study timeline, all of which will occur at the McMaster Children's Hospital, 2H Neurometabolic Clinic.

Baseline testing - Day 3 (Visit 2); Participants will arrive the following day to undergo functional testing which will include 6-minute walk test, 5x sit to stand, timed up and go, grip strength and maximal voluntary knee extension using the Biodex dynamometer. Participants will then complete the SF-36.

Follow up testing - Day 5 (Visit 3); Participants will arrive following an overnight fast (including no caffeine for 12 hours) and having abstained from any exercise for the prior 24 hours. Participants will undergo a muscle biopsy from the vastus lateralis.

DM1 participants only:

Exercise training - Visit 4 - 39; Participants will begin the exercise protocol consisting of 3 exercise sessions per week for a 12-week period. All exercise sessions will be done on a cycle ergometer (Lode, Groningen, Netherlands). Each exercise session will consist of 3 minutes of warm up, 30 minutes at 65% V02max and will end with 2 minutes of cool down. Exercise progression over the 12 weeks will go as follows:

* Weeks 1 and 2: 3 min warm up, 65% VO2max for 30 min, 2 min cool down
* Weeks 3 and 4: increase to 35 min (+ warm up/cool down)
* Weeks 5 and 6: drop to 30 min and increase to 70% VO2max
* Weeks 7 and 8: increase to 35 min (+ warm up/cool down)
* Weeks 9 and 10: drop to 30 min and increase to 75%VO2 max
* Weeks 11 and 12: increase to 35 min (+ warm up/cool down)

Endpoint testing - Visit 40; At this time, anthropometric re-measurements (i.e., height, weight, waist circumference) and a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) measurement will be performed. Thereafter, participants will undergo an ECG to measure any conductance blockage and perform a maximal cycling test to determine their aerobic capacity (V02peak). Maximal aerobic testing will then be followed by another 12 lead ECG to detect any possible structural cardiac issues in our participants.

Endpoint testing - Visit 41; Participants will arrive the following day to undergo functional testing which will include 6-minute walk test, timed up and go, grip strength and maximal voluntary knee extension using the Biodex dynamometer. Participants will then complete the SF-36.

Endpoint testing - Visit 42; Participants will arrive following an overnight fast (including no caffeine for 12 hours) and having abstained from any exercise for the prior 24 hours. Participants will undergo a muscle biopsy from the vastus lateralis.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

DM1 participants:

* Male or female clinically diagnosed with DM1
* CTG repeats 100-1000
* Normal weight (BMI 18.5 - 24.9 kg/m2) or overweight (BMI 25 - 29.9 kg/m2)

Age matched controls:

* Healthy men and women
* Normal weight (BMI 18.5 - 24.9 kg/m2) or overweight (BMI 25 - 29.9 kg/m2)
* Physically inactive (\< 1-2 hour of formal exercise/week)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Smoking
* Obese (BMI \> 30.0 kg/m2)
* Use of narcotic analgesic or anti-inflammatory drugs
* Type 1 or 2 diabetes (more than one anti-diabetic drug)
* Cardiovascular disease (recent myocardial infarction (\< 6 months))
* Uncontrolled hypertension requiring more than 2 medications
* Congestive heart failure requiring more than one medication for control-
* Known liver disease
* Cognitive impairments limiting ability to provide informed consent
* Active musculoskeletal injuries and/or severe osteoarthritis