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Acute Cognition and Exercise

Acute Exercise and Cognitive Function: Examining the Role of Weight Status and Exercise-Induced Myokines

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05078203
Acronym
ACE
Enrollment
26
Registered
2021-10-14
Start date
2021-09-02
Completion date
2022-04-28
Last updated
2024-02-20

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Obesity

Keywords

Myokine, Cognition, CTSB, BDNF, Exercise

Brief summary

The central hypothesis is that, while both groups will benefit from the exercise session, participants with obesity will exhibit greater gains in cognitive control, relative to healthy weight adults. Additionally, it is anticipated that the benefits of a single bout of exercise for cognitive control will be mediated by changes in exercise-induced myokines. These hypotheses will be tested by accomplishing three aims: Aim 1: Elucidate the changes in cognitive control following an acute bout of exercise, relative to a sedentary condition, in persons with and without obesity. Aim 2: To examine the effect of a single bout of exercise, relative to a sedentary condition, on myokines known to have neuroprotective effects i.e., BDNF and CTSB in both healthy weight and individuals with obesity. Aim 3: To link changes in exercise-induced myokines (i.e., BDNF and CTSB) to changes in cognitive function, following a single bout of exercise.

Detailed description

18 adults with healthy weight (BMI 18.5-25.0kg/m2) and 18 adults with obesity (BMI 30.0kg/m2) will be asked to complete a counter-balanced crossover trial. After initial baseline testing, participants will be asked to complete either an acute exercise bout or sedentary control session in a counter-balanced order. A cognitive testing battery accompanied by an electroencephalogram (EEG) will be administered following each session. Blood samples will be collected prior to, during, and following each throughout each testing condition.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALExercise

36 minutes of Exercise

Sponsors

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

18 adults with healthy weight (BMI 18.5-25.0kg/m2) and 18 adults with obesity (BMI 30.0kg/m2) will be asked to complete a counter-balanced crossover trial. After initial baseline testing, participants will be asked to complete either an acute exercise bout or sedentary control session in a counter-balanced order.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 35 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Between ages 18 and 35 * No prior diagnosis of neurological disorders (e.g., autism spectrum disorder) * No prior diagnosis of metabolic disease (e.g., diabetes, cardiovascular disease) * No physical disability that would preclude the participant from completing a VO2max test * Corrected vision (based on the minimal 20/20 standard needed to complete cognitive tasks) * Not pregnant * BMI between 18.5 and 25.0 kg/m2, or BMI greater than 30.0 kg/m2 * Readiness for exercise (determined through PAR-Q)

Exclusion criteria

* \<18 years and \>35 years * Diagnosis of neurological disorders (e.g., autism spectrum disorder) * Diagnosis of metabolic disease (e.g., diabetes, cardiovascular disease) * Physical disability that would preclude the participant from completing a VO2max test * Lack of corrected vision (based on the minimal 20/20 standard needed to complete cognitive tasks) * Pregnancy * BMI less than 18.5 kg/m2 or BMI greater than 25.0 but less than 30.0 kg/m2

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Attentional Inhibition Reaction Time3 hoursBehavioral performance measured as response time (ms) during Flanker task
Circulating Cathepsin B (CTSB) Myokine3 hoursChanges in peripheral myokine concentration
Attentional Inhibition Accuracy3 hoursBehavioral performance measured as accuracy (%) during Flanker task
Relational Memory3 hoursAccuracy during a spatial reconstruction task
Attentional Resource Allocation3 hoursChanges in P3 event related potential amplitude (microvolts) using a computerized flanker task
Attentional Processing Speed3 hoursChanges in P3 event related potential latency (ms) using a computerized flanker task

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)3 hoursChanges in peripheral BDNF concentration

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026