Exercise as a Strategy to Treat Cognitive Dysfunction in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Many persons with Multiple Sclerosis ( MS) have problems with memory and thinking.Exercise has been shown to improve memory and thinking in persons with diseases such as Alzheimer's. This study will investigate whether a program of aerobic exercise can improve memory and thinking in persons with MS

Detailed Description
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Persons with Multiple Sclerosis(MS)will be screened for eligibility and randomized to a protocol with two intervention arms. One group will have aerobic training on a recumbent cross trainer three times a week for 20-30 minutes/session. The other group will participate in stretching exercises at the same frequency and intensity.Total training time will be six months.Outcome measures will include tests of memory and thinking, and fitness measures.

Official Title
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Exercise as a Strategy to Treat Cognitive Dysfunction in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis

Conditions
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Multiple Sclerosis

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: exercise
* Behavioral: stretching


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Clinical Diagnosis of MS Complaints of cognitive problems Able to ride a recumbent cross trainer Exclusion Criteria: Cardiopulmonary or structural disease that would limit ability to participate in exercise training On treatment with chemotherapy or natalizumab Screening score of >50 on PASAT

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 60 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: aerobic exercise<br>Subjects will train on a recumbent cross trainer 20-30 minutes/session for three times/week for six months under supervision of a fitness specialist | Behavioral: exercise<br>* subjects will participate in one of two forms of exercise<br>|
| Active Comparator: stretching<br>Subjects will particiate in supervised stretching at same frauency, duration and intensity of aerobic exericse arm | Behavioral: stretching<br>* subjects will particiopate in supervised stretching as described in arm description.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) | test of attention and information processing | 36 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) | test of attention and information processing | 36 weeks | 
| VO2 max | measure of fitness via oxygen consumption and use | 36 weeks | 
| Long latency cognitive event related potentials ( LLCERP) | electrophysiologic tests of information processing | 36 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Multiple Sclerosis, Exercise, Cognition