None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This study is designed to assess the impact of a six month high- and low-intensity cycle-based exercise intervention on cognitive function, measures of brain volume and connectivity and Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-related blood biomarkers in a cohort of older adults aged 60 - 80 years. Furthermore, we will assess the impact of genetic predisposition on responses to exercise within this population. The effect of the exercise regimen will be assessed using a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests to assess cognitive function. To assess the impact of the intervention on AD risk, MRI scans and measurements of blood biomarkers will also be evaluated across the intervention groups.
Interventions
Participants allocated to either low-intensity exercise or high-intensity exercise will complete 6 months of either a low-intensity or high-intensity cycling program consisting of two sessions (~50 minutes per session) per week. All exercise sessions will be completed within a university setting under the guidance of an Exercise Physiologist and other trained staff. The sessions will be completed on a cycle ergometer to allow accurate measurement of workload (Wattage), and radiotelemetric heart
Participants allocated to either low-intensity exercise or high-intensity exercise will complete 6 months of either a low-intensity or high-intensity cycling program consisting of two sessions (~50 minutes per session) per week. All exercise sessions will be completed within a university setting under the guidance of an Exercise Physiologist and other trained staff. The sessions will be completed on a cycle ergometer to allow accurate measurement of workload (Wattage), and radiotelemetric heart rate monitors (Polar 810i, Polar, Finland) will be used to monitor physiological effort. The intensity of exercise will be determined using the Borg scale of perceived exertion. This method will alleviate the need to do multiple retests of fitness as individuals will increase effort to maintain perceived exertion with increasing fitness. Individuals in the high-intensity group will complete the six month intervention regimen, attending 2 sessions per week of ~50mins at Murdoch University exercise physiology laboratory. Each session will be comprised of 11 intervals of 1 minute of hard effort cycling (~80-90% aerobic capacity; 18.0 Borg scale) interspersed with 2 minutes of active recovery (30-40% aerobic capacity; 12 Borg scale) with an additional warm-up and cool-down period provided. Participants allocated to the low-intensity group will also complete a six month exercise regimen, attending 2 sessions per week of ~50 mins at Murdoch University exercise physiology laboratory. Each session will be comprised of constant intensity cycling (~50% aerobic capacity; 13.0 Borg scale) and, within their best ability, participants will be encouraged to complete the entire 50 minutes of cycling.
Sponsors
Murdoch University
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Prevention
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
60 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Aged 60-80 years, cognitively healthy (i.e. no diagnosis of dementia), adequate visual and auditory acuity to complete neuropsychological testing, willingness to participate in entirety of study, willingness and ability to provide written informed consent, able to provide a letter from usual GP endorsing participants ability to partake in all aspects of the study.
Exclusion criteria
1. A diagnosis of AD or another neurodegenerative disease, or a score of less than 26 on the Mini Mental State Examination. 2. Presence of clinical depression as measured by a score of 6 or greater on the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) Short Form. 3. Inability to undertake cycling-based exercise due to neuromuscular and/or musculo-skeletal limitations. 4. Inability to obtain medical clearance to participate in the exercise program. 5. Lifetime history of schizophrenia, shizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder 6. Subjects with untreated obstructive sleep apnoea 7. History of electroconvulsive therapy or serious head injury resulting in a prolonged period of unconsciousness. 8. History of alcohol abuse or dependence within 2 years of screening 9. Participants with a history of cancer (other than skin or in situ prostate cancer) within the previous 5 years 10. Any significant systemic illness or unstable medical condition that could lead to difficulty complying with the protocol including: history of myocardial infarction in the past year or unstable or severe cardiovascular disease including angina or Congestive Heart, chronic renal failure, chronic hepatic disease, severe pulmonary disease, epilepsy etc. 11. Insulin-requiring diabetes or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus 12. Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic BP greater than 170 or diastolic BP greater than 100) 13. Participants in whom magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is contraindicated including, but not limited to, those with a pacemaker, presence of metallic fragments near the eyes or spinal cord, or cochlear implant (Dental fillings do not present a risk for MRI).
Outcome results
None listed