Clinical trial NCT05864950: Brain Blood Flow Responses During Exercise
Official title: Influence of Biological Sex and Age on Cerebral Blood Flow and Vessel Function During Exercise: a Pilot Study
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Cerebrovascular Circulation
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Keywords: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Exercise
Brain Blood Flow
Lead sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
First posted: 2023-05-18
Enrollment: 80
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 55
Maximum age (years): 69
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE

Brief summary: Brain blood flow will be measured during exercise using magnetic resonance imaging.

Detailed description: Over 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and this number is expected to reach over 13 million by 2060. Thus, there is an urgent need for interventions to prevent the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Regular exercise is currently the most promising strategy as it is repeatedly shown to have neuroprotective benefits. Evidence suggests that the neuroprotective effects of exercise is the result of improved health of blood vessels. Despite the vast amount of evidence on the benefit of exercise on the peripheral vasculature, there is little information regarding brain vascular responses during exercise. This study will investigate the impact of exercise at varying intensities on brain blood flow during exercise, and will also examine the influence of age and sex.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Healthy men or women between the ages of 55-69 years
* Demonstrate an exercise history of engaging in aerobic physical activity at least 3 times per week for a minimum of 30 continuous minutes
* Have experience using cardiovascular exercise equipment (e.g., treadmill, elliptical, upright or recumbent bicycle, stair-stepper)

Exclusion Criteria:

* Outside of specified age range
* Do not have experience using cardiovascular exercise equipment
* Do not meet the physical activity criteria
* Present with a history or evidence of hepatic, renal, hematological disease, cardiovascular disease including uncontrolled hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, stroke/neurovascular disease, and diabetes
* have a body mass index ≥35 kg/m2
* are ≥ 71 inches (180 cm) in height
* have any contraindications to MRI
* currently use or have a history of use of tobacco or illegal substances
* have current and/or a history of depression or other mood related disorders (those with mild depression and/or anxiety that is controlled with medication and/or therapy will not be excluded)
* vulnerable populations (e.g., pregnant women, prisoners, individuals lacking capacity to consent)
* if the desired moderate/vigorous exercise intensity corresponds to \> 350 watts on the stepper device

Primary outcomes:
measure: Cerebral Hemodynamics
timeFrame: One study visit, up to 120 minutes
measure: Cerebral Blood Flow
timeFrame: One study visit, up to 120 minutes
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Madison
country: United States
facility: University of Wisconsin-Madison
state: Wisconsin
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Wisconsin, Madison
name: Jill N Barnes, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
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