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Acute Exercise on Brain Insulin Sensitivity

Impact of Acute Exercise on Brain Insulin Sensitivity in Middle-aged to Older Adults

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05853913
Enrollment
16
Registered
2023-05-11
Start date
2023-05-11
Completion date
2025-03-25
Last updated
2025-11-21

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

Conditions

Aging, Cardiovascular Disease Risk, Cognition, Insulin Resistance, Obesity

Keywords

Exercise

Brief summary

Dementia is a leading cause of death in the United States among aging adults. Brain insulin resistance has emerged as a pathologic factor affecting memory, executive function as well as systemic glucose control. Regular aerobic exercise decreases Alzheimer's Disease (AD) risk, in part, through changes in brain structure and function. However, there is limited data available on how exercise impacts brain insulin resistance in aging. This study will test the effect of acute exercise on brain insulin sensitivity in middle-aged to older adults. The study will also examine cognition and cardiometabolic health in relation to brain insulin sensitivity.

Detailed description

Obesity, hypertension, high blood glucose (e.g. prediabetes/type 2 diabetes), and physical inactivity is thought to worsen brain insulin resistance and reduce cerebral blood flow. This suggests lifestyle approaches may be necessary to counteract declines in brain health. Regular aerobic exercise decreases Alzheimer's Disease (AD) risk, in part, through changes in brain structure and function. Moreover, exercise-related structural changes in the brain, namely increased hippocampal volume, is linked to improved memory. However, there is limited data available on how exercise impacts brain insulin resistance in aging. It is also unclear if one bout of exercise may help improve brain insulin responses to insulin before fitness gains or weight loss in people at risk for dementia, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Because single bouts of exercise are established to improve metabolic and vascular insulin sensitivity in people with obesity, the investigators anticipate exercise to raise brain insulin sensitivity in relation to cognition and cardiometabolic health.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALExercise

Exercise will be walking/jogging at a medium to hard intensity for 1 hour.

Sponsors

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Individuals will perform both rest and exercise conditions.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
40 Years to 80 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Male or female \>/=40 and \</=80 years old. * Has a body mass index \>/=25 and \</=45 kg/m2. * Physical Activity (\<150 min of moderate/high intensity exercise per week)

Exclusion criteria

* Subjects who have not been weight stable (\>2 kg weight change in past 3 months) * Subjects who are smokers or who have quit smoking \<1 years ago * Subjects with abnormal estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). * Hypertriglyceridemic (\>400 mg/dl) and hypercholesterolemic (\>260 mg/dl) subjects * Hypertensive (\>160/100 mmHg) * Subjects with a history of significant metabolic, cardiac, congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular, hematological, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, liver, renal, or endocrine disease or cancer that in the investigator's opinion would interfere with or alter the outcome measures or impact subject safety. * Pregnant (as evidenced by positive urine pregnancy test) or nursing women * Subjects with contraindications to participation in an exercise * Current Pregnancy * Currently taking active weight suppression medication (e.g. phentermine, orlistat, lorcaserin, naltrexone-bupropion in combination, liraglutide, benzphetamine, diethylpropion, phendimetrazine) * Subjects currently taking medications that affect heart rate and rhythm (i.e. Ca++ channel blockers, nitrates, alpha- or beta-blockers). * Known contraindications for MRI imaging

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Brain insulin sensitivityChange from baseline to exercise; about 1 week apartMRI arterial spin labeling, cerebral blood flow

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
CognitionChange from baseline to exercise; about 1 week apartNIH Toolbox Cognitive Battery
Blood GlucoseChange from baseline to exercise; about 1 week apartBlood draw via oxidase method
Blood Free Fatty AcidsChange from baseline to exercise; about 1 week apartBlood draw via colorimetric assays
Carbohydrate UseChange from baseline to exercise; about 1 week apartIndirect Calorimetry
Systolic and Diastolic Blood PressureChange from baseline to exercise; about 1 week apartCuff around arm

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 26, 2026