Aging
Conditions
Keywords
aging
Brief summary
The objective of the current proposal is to identify 1) how aging-related changes in GABAergic cortical inhibition affect motor performance, and 2) how aerobic exercise may improve inhibitory function and facilitate motor learning.
Detailed description
The current proposal seeks quantify neural inhibition using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in older Veterans to identify how each measures contributes to aging-related changes in motor performance. Currently, over 56% (11.8 million) of Veterans are over age 60. Recent research has shown that aging is associated with decreased cortical inhibition and impaired hand motor function. However, this loss of inhibition is not an inescapable consequence of aging. The investigators' previous work that healthy older adults who engage in regular physical activity show increased cortical inhibition and improved dexterity as compared to their sedentary age cohort. This indicates that aerobic training may reverse aging related changes in cortical inhibition and alteration of tonic levels of cortical excitability can have a powerful impact on motor performance in the aging brain. In the current proposal, the investigators will enroll older adults to assess how different measurements (TMS and MRS) of the dominant inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain - GABA differ in relation to motor control. During the MRS scan, participants will perform a motor learning task to assess change in GABA level throughout the acquisition session. These data will be compared with measures of cortical inhibition using TMS to quantify neurotransmitter receptor activity with respect to aging-related changes in motor performance. The investigators will also be comparing the effects of an aerobic exercise intervention as compared to a contact matched stretching control. The investigators believe this project is the first inquiry of its kind and will have an important impact in the understanding of aging-related neurophysiological changes in the brain and how it can remediate associated behavioral declines.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALAerobic Exercise
Participants will engage in an aerobic exercise program meeting thrice weekly for a period of 12 weeks.
BEHAVIORALStretching and Balance Training
Participants will engage in a balance and stretching comparator condition meeting thrice weekly for 12 weeks.
Sponsors
VA Office of Research and Development
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Two group parallel design
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
50 Years to 85 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* living persons aged 50-85
Exclusion criteria
* unmanaged diabetes * participants completing vigorous exercise per week * participants whose profession requires vigorous physical labor * contraindication to magnetic resonance imaging
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy | Baseline and12 weeks | Measuring changes in dynamic magnetic resonance spectroscopy of primary motor cortex during motor learning. |
Countries
United States
Participant flow
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| Aerobic Exercise Participants will engage in an aerobic exercise program meeting thrice weekly for a period of 12 weeks.
Aerobic Exercise: Participants will engage in an aerobic exercise program meeting thrice weekly for a period of 12 weeks. | 12 |
| Stretching and Balance Training Participants will engage in a balance and stretching comparator condition meeting thrice weekly for 12 weeks.
Stretching and Balance Training: Participants will engage in a balance and stretching comparator condition meeting thrice weekly for 12 weeks. | 18 |
| Total | 30 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | Total | Aerobic Exercise | Stretching and Balance Training |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age, Categorical <=18 years | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Age, Categorical >=65 years | 30 Participants | 12 Participants | 18 Participants |
| Age, Categorical Between 18 and 65 years | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Age, Continuous | 70.02 years | 69.88 years | 71.24 years |
| Race (NIH/OMB) American Indian or Alaska Native | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Asian | 1 Participants | 1 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Black or African American | 15 Participants | 5 Participants | 10 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) More than one race | 1 Participants | 0 Participants | 1 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Unknown or Not Reported | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) White | 13 Participants | 6 Participants | 7 Participants |
| Region of Enrollment United States | 30 Participants | 12 Participants | 18 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Female | 16 Participants | 6 Participants | 10 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Male | 14 Participants | 6 Participants | 8 Participants |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk | EG001 affected / at risk |
|---|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | 0 / 12 | 0 / 18 |
| other Total, other adverse events | 0 / 12 | 0 / 18 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 0 / 12 | 0 / 18 |
Outcome results
Primary
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Measuring changes in dynamic magnetic resonance spectroscopy of primary motor cortex during motor learning.
Time frame: Baseline and12 weeks
Population: 4 participants in the Aerobic exercise group and 10 participants in the Stretching and Balance Training group did not complete the 12 week follow up assessment
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerobic Exercise | Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy | 0.41 ppm | Standard Deviation 0.69 |
| Stretching and Balance Training | Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy | -0.29 ppm | Standard Deviation 0.66 |
p-value: 0.05ANOVA