Aerobic Exercise and Cerebrovascular Function
| Status: | Not yet recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Healthy Studies |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Other |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 65 - 80 |
| Updated: | 1/17/2019 |
| Start Date: | April 1, 2019 |
| End Date: | March 31, 2023 |
| Contact: | Joe R Nocera, PhD |
| Email: | joe.nocera2@va.gov |
| Phone: | (404) 321-6111 |
Graded Intensity Aerobic Exercise to Improve Cerebrovascular Function and Performance in Aged Veterans
This proposal will evaluate two brain health measures, cerebrovascular perfusion and
cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), before and after a proven, interval-based, aerobic exercise
intervention in older Veterans. The hypothesis is that the 12-week aerobic exercise
intervention (Spin) will increase perfusion and improve CVR in brain regions susceptible to
age-related decline. This information will inform the impact of exercise on cerebrovascular
health which is known to be negatively impacted in aging and implicated in the development of
neurogenerative disease. This information will also aid the investigators' continued efforts
of clinical implementation of evidence-based exercise interventions in the local Atlanta VA
and surround region.
cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), before and after a proven, interval-based, aerobic exercise
intervention in older Veterans. The hypothesis is that the 12-week aerobic exercise
intervention (Spin) will increase perfusion and improve CVR in brain regions susceptible to
age-related decline. This information will inform the impact of exercise on cerebrovascular
health which is known to be negatively impacted in aging and implicated in the development of
neurogenerative disease. This information will also aid the investigators' continued efforts
of clinical implementation of evidence-based exercise interventions in the local Atlanta VA
and surround region.
To address the growing healthcare challenges of an aging Veteran population it is critical to
understand effective rehabilitation techniques that mitigate age-related co-morbidity and
improve quality of life. To date, exercise is one of a few proven interventions that
attenuates age-related declines in brain health and function. A consistent but unexplained
finding in many of these studies is a change in the cortical activation pattern during task,
assessed using blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) signal with fMRI that corresponds with
improved task performance. Two key metrics of cerebrovascular health and functioning that are
underexplored but may influence the documented changes in the BOLD response that is observed
with post-aerobic activity are: 1) changes in resting or basal cerebral blood flow
(perfusion) to key brain regions; and 2) changes in the ability of cerebrovasculature to
dilate in the face of increased demand, termed cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR). The
investigators' goal is to quantify the impact of aerobic exercise on cerebrovascular function
and how both perfusion and CVR contributes to the BOLD signal during task-based fMRI.
Consistent with the investigators' previous aging and exercise studies participants will
complete one of two conditions; 1) an aerobic, interval-training intervention (Spin; n= 44),
or 2) a non-aerobic, stretching control condition (Control; n=44). Cardiovascular fitness,
arterial spin labeling for basal cerebral perfusion, CVR, task-based fMRI
(cognitive-executive and motor), and behavioral outcomes will be assessed before and after
the interventions. The specific aims will determine the effect of a 12-week aerobic exercise
intervention on changes in cerebral perfusion and CVR in older Veterans. The investigators
hypothesize that compared to the Control group, the aerobically-trained group will have
increased basal perfusion and CVR in areas that demonstrate age-related decline and that have
been demonstrated to be malleable to aerobic exercise (inferior frontal and motor cortices).
Research over the last few decades have driven the continual promotion of exercise as one of
the most impactful interventions of central nervous system health and function. At the
forefront of much of this research is the use of task-based fMRI BOLD to quantify beneficial
changes in cortical function following aerobic exercise. While transformative, the true
impact of this research is limited in scope until the investigators can define the influence
of cerebrovascular function on the well-documented beneficial change in BOLD response. The
investigators do know that older adults who are physically active have improved vascular
health but do not know the full impact of an exercise intervention on cerebrovascular health.
If the hypotheses of improved perfusion and CVR is supported it would inform current
intervention strategies and would add important additional information about the potential of
exercise to improve brain health in aging. This would have implications for aging Veterans at
risk for neurodegenerative disease brought on by cerebrovascular dysfunction.
understand effective rehabilitation techniques that mitigate age-related co-morbidity and
improve quality of life. To date, exercise is one of a few proven interventions that
attenuates age-related declines in brain health and function. A consistent but unexplained
finding in many of these studies is a change in the cortical activation pattern during task,
assessed using blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) signal with fMRI that corresponds with
improved task performance. Two key metrics of cerebrovascular health and functioning that are
underexplored but may influence the documented changes in the BOLD response that is observed
with post-aerobic activity are: 1) changes in resting or basal cerebral blood flow
(perfusion) to key brain regions; and 2) changes in the ability of cerebrovasculature to
dilate in the face of increased demand, termed cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR). The
investigators' goal is to quantify the impact of aerobic exercise on cerebrovascular function
and how both perfusion and CVR contributes to the BOLD signal during task-based fMRI.
Consistent with the investigators' previous aging and exercise studies participants will
complete one of two conditions; 1) an aerobic, interval-training intervention (Spin; n= 44),
or 2) a non-aerobic, stretching control condition (Control; n=44). Cardiovascular fitness,
arterial spin labeling for basal cerebral perfusion, CVR, task-based fMRI
(cognitive-executive and motor), and behavioral outcomes will be assessed before and after
the interventions. The specific aims will determine the effect of a 12-week aerobic exercise
intervention on changes in cerebral perfusion and CVR in older Veterans. The investigators
hypothesize that compared to the Control group, the aerobically-trained group will have
increased basal perfusion and CVR in areas that demonstrate age-related decline and that have
been demonstrated to be malleable to aerobic exercise (inferior frontal and motor cortices).
Research over the last few decades have driven the continual promotion of exercise as one of
the most impactful interventions of central nervous system health and function. At the
forefront of much of this research is the use of task-based fMRI BOLD to quantify beneficial
changes in cortical function following aerobic exercise. While transformative, the true
impact of this research is limited in scope until the investigators can define the influence
of cerebrovascular function on the well-documented beneficial change in BOLD response. The
investigators do know that older adults who are physically active have improved vascular
health but do not know the full impact of an exercise intervention on cerebrovascular health.
If the hypotheses of improved perfusion and CVR is supported it would inform current
intervention strategies and would add important additional information about the potential of
exercise to improve brain health in aging. This would have implications for aging Veterans at
risk for neurodegenerative disease brought on by cerebrovascular dysfunction.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Adults aged 65-80 who do not regularly exercise
- defined as exercising less than 20 minutes twice per week
- Are willing and able to cooperate with assessments and interventions
- Participant will be quantified at or below the "poor" range for cardiovascular fitness
as assessed by a volume of oxygen (VO2) test
- 26.0 ml/kg/min for males
- 21.0 ml/kg/min for females)
- 26 on the MoCA to meet the criteria for cognitively intact
- Participants will be free from diseases affecting cognition or that would interfere
with their ability to engage in aerobic exercise - including but not limited to:
- chronic heart
- liver
- kidney disease
- Free from diseases/injuries directly affecting brain functions - including but not
limited to:
- significant closed head injury
- open intracranial wounds
- stroke
- epilepsy
- degenerative diseases of the nervous system
- All subjects will speak English as a primary language and will have at minimum a high
school diploma so that behavioral/cognitive measures reflect effects of aging and
aerobic exercise and not unfamiliarity with the English language or a lack of
education
Exclusion Criteria:
- Potential participants with major psychiatric disorder - including but not limited to:
- psychosis
- major depression
- bipolar disorder
- Individuals with ongoing drug or alcohol abuse and severe hypertension (systolic BP >
200 or diastolic BP > 110 mm Hg or subjects taking three or more antihypertensive
medications
- Participants must not have conditions incompatible with MRI - including but not
limited to:
- ferrous metal implants
- cardiac pacemakers or similar devices
- claustrophobia
- morbid obesity
- Persons engaging in significant skilled manual movements regularly will be excluded so
that behavioral/motor measures reflect the effects of age and aerobic exercise and not
the effects of frequent practice
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