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Exercise Effects on Word Learning

Primary Purpose

Aging, Aphasia

Status
Completed
Phase
Not Applicable
Locations
United States
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Retrieval Practice + Moderate Intensity Exercise
Retrieval Practice + Gentle Stretching
Study Only + Moderate Intensity Exercise
Study Only + Gentle Stretching
Sponsored by
VA Office of Research and Development
About
Eligibility
Locations
Arms
Outcomes
Full info

About this trial

This is an interventional other trial for Aging focused on measuring aerobic exercise, learning, language, cognition

Eligibility Criteria

35 Years - 89 Years (Adult, Older Adult)All SexesAccepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion Criteria:

  • monolingual English speakers
  • "low physical activity" on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire
  • physician's written approval for participation in moderate-intensity exercise

Exclusion Criteria:

  • VO2 max >26 (men) and 22 (women)
  • inability to cycle for 3 minutes at 50 revolutions/minute with no resistance
  • any comorbid condition with exercise contraindications
  • use of hormone replacement therapy

    • dopaminergic
    • anti-depressant
    • anti-psychotic
    • or illicit drugs
  • consumption of >14 alcoholic drinks/week or > 1pack of cigarettes/day
  • uncorrected hearing or vision impairments that interfere with study procedures
  • inability to read or repeat nonwords (e.g., flark)
  • inability to learn one novel word during a practice learning task
  • below cut-off on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment or the Comprehensive Aphasia Test Cognitive Screen
  • and/or >10 on the Beck Depression Inventory

Sites / Locations

  • Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA

Arms of the Study

Arm 1

Arm 2

Arm Type

Experimental

Experimental

Arm Label

Healthy Older Adults

Individuals with Aphasia

Arm Description

Participants complete all four interventions Retrieval Practice + Moderate Intensity Exercise: Subjects will engage in 30 minutes of moderate-intensity cycling prior to word learning using Retrieval Practice (active retrieval during learning) Retrieval Practice + Gentle Stretching: Subject will engage in 30 minutes of gentle upper- and lower- limb stretching prior to word learning using Retrieval Practice (active retrieval during learning) Study Only + Moderate Intensity Exercise: Subjects will engage in 30 minutes of gentle stretching prior to word learning using Study Only (no active retrieval during learning) Study Only + Gentle Stretching: Subjects will engage in 30 minutes of gentle stretching prior to word learning using Study Only (no active retrieval during learning)

Participants complete all four interventions Retrieval Practice + Moderate Intensity Exercise: Subjects will engage in 30 minutes of moderate-intensity cycling prior to word learning using Retrieval Practice (active retrieval during learning) Retrieval Practice + Gentle Stretching: Subject will engage in 30 minutes of gentle upper- and lower- limb stretching prior to word learning using Retrieval Practice (active retrieval during learning) Study Only + Moderate Intensity Exercise: Subjects will engage in 30 minutes of gentle stretching prior to word learning using Study Only (no active retrieval during learning) Study Only + Gentle Stretching: Subjects will engage in 30 minutes of gentle stretching prior to word learning using Study Only (no active retrieval during learning)

Outcomes

Primary Outcome Measures

Study-Specific Word Recall Task
Study-specific word recall task comprising trained items. Participant is shown each trained item and types the name. Acquisition: immediately after exercise or stretching on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Consolidation: immediately before exercise or stretching on Wednesday and Friday, one week after training (Friday)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Serum BDNF Concentration Levels (pg/mL)
Blood samples collected to measure serum BDNF concentration levels (pg/mL), as follows: Before moderate intensity exercise or gentle stretching Immediately after moderate intensity exercise or gentle stretching Immediately after word learning 15 minutes after word learning
Plasma Dopamine
The investigators will collect blood samples to detect changes in plasma dopamine in the training conditions on Monday and Friday sessions, as follows:. Before exercise or stretching Immediately after exercise or stretching Immediately after word learning 15 minutes after word learning

Full Information

First Posted
October 10, 2017
Last Updated
August 9, 2021
Sponsor
VA Office of Research and Development
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1. Study Identification

Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT03370471
Brief Title
Exercise Effects on Word Learning
Official Title
Acute Exercise Effects on Word Learning in Aging and Stroke-induced Aphasia
Study Type
Interventional

2. Study Status

Record Verification Date
August 2021
Overall Recruitment Status
Completed
Study Start Date
December 9, 2016 (Actual)
Primary Completion Date
August 16, 2019 (Actual)
Study Completion Date
August 16, 2019 (Actual)

3. Sponsor/Collaborators

Responsible Party, by Official Title
Sponsor
Name of the Sponsor
VA Office of Research and Development

4. Oversight

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product
No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product
No
Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.
No
Data Monitoring Committee
No

5. Study Description

Brief Summary
The aging Veteran population will substantially increase over the next 10 years, as the 24.9% of Veterans who are currently between 55-64 years of age join the 38.5% who are already over age 65. The risk of stroke more than doubles each decade after age 55, which places Veterans at an ever-increasing risk of suffering stroke-related language impairment (i.e., aphasia). Difficulty retrieving words, which negatively impacts psychosocial well-being and quality of life, is the most common complaint in healthy aging and aphasia. Word retrieval interventions to maintain or restore communicative function are needed. Studies have shown that physical exercise can improve word learning in young adults. This study will investigate the effects of exercise on word learning in aging and aphasia. The results will help the us understand how exercise may be used to optimize word retrieval interventions for our aging Veterans.
Detailed Description
Difficulty retrieving the right word to communicate a message is the most common complaint in healthy older adults and individuals with stroke-induced language impairment (i.e., aphasia). Novel word learning paradigms have been used to investigate a variety of behavioral and neuromodulatory approaches to improve word retrieval deficits. Previous novel word learning studies have shown that physical exercise can improve long term recall in healthy young adults and that increased levels of dopamine may be responsible for this effect; however, no studies have investigated the effects of exercise on novel word learning in older adults and individuals with aphasia, and very little is known about the mechanisms that support exercise-enhanced word learning in these populations. The aims of this study are to: 1) to identify the novel word learning paradigm that facilitates immediate and long-term word recall 2a) to investigate how acute, moderate-intensity exercise alters levels of serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and plasma dopamine 2b) to describe and quantify the association between novel word learning and any observed changes in serum BDNF and plasma dopamine. This research will provide a platform for future investigations of immediate exercise effects on word learning, which are essential for achieving our long-term goal of developing exercise-based word retrieval interventions for healthy older Veterans and Veterans with aphasia. A within subjects crossover design will be used to address Aims 1, 2a and 2b. Subjects will complete aerobic exercise or stretching (training) before engaging in Study Only or Retrieval Practice (learning). Subjects will be counterbalanced within and across conditions. Sixteen healthy older adults (65-89 years) and 16 individuals with aphasia (35-89 years), will be recruited. The study will comprise 18 sessions over 12 weeks. In Week 1, subjects will undergo baseline blood draws, a physical assessment, cognitive and language assessments, and a practice word learning task. In Weeks 2-12, subjects will complete the four conditions. Each condition will last two weeks, with a one-week break between conditions. In each condition, training and learning sessions will take place on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Training: Subjects will engage in 30 minutes of moderate-intensity cycling or gentle upper and lower limb stretching (control) prior to engaging in a novel word learning task. Learning: Familiar objects (e.g., cup) will be paired with nonwords (e.g., flark). In the Study Only paradigm, object/nonword pairs will be presented three times across three days (Monday, Wednesday, Friday). In the Retrieval Practice paradigm, object/nonword pairs will be presented during the first session (Monday). In subsequent sessions (Wednesday, Friday), subjects will be asked to recall the nonword name of presented objects. Corrective feedback will be provided on each trial. Testing: Recognition and recall testing without corrective feedback will be administered immediately after learning (short-term memory), before training in the second and third learning session (overnight consolidation) and one week after learning (long-term memory). Blood Draws: Three blood samples will be taken at baseline (rest, 30 minutes, 60 minutes). In each of the four conditions, blood samples will be taking during the first and third learning session (at rest, after training, after learning, and 15 minutes after learning). Whole blood will be collected in plain tubes and in anticoagulant-treated tubes for subsequent serum BDNF and plasma dopamine analysis by ELISA. Samples will be analyzed in triplicate to increase reliability.

6. Conditions and Keywords

Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Aging, Aphasia
Keywords
aerobic exercise, learning, language, cognition

7. Study Design

Primary Purpose
Other
Study Phase
Not Applicable
Interventional Study Model
Crossover Assignment
Model Description
2x2 crossover design comparing two learning paradigms (Study Only vs. Retrieval Practice) and two training conditions (Moderate Intensity Exercise vs. Gentle Stretching)
Masking
None (Open Label)
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
28 (Actual)

8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions

Arm Title
Healthy Older Adults
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
Participants complete all four interventions Retrieval Practice + Moderate Intensity Exercise: Subjects will engage in 30 minutes of moderate-intensity cycling prior to word learning using Retrieval Practice (active retrieval during learning) Retrieval Practice + Gentle Stretching: Subject will engage in 30 minutes of gentle upper- and lower- limb stretching prior to word learning using Retrieval Practice (active retrieval during learning) Study Only + Moderate Intensity Exercise: Subjects will engage in 30 minutes of gentle stretching prior to word learning using Study Only (no active retrieval during learning) Study Only + Gentle Stretching: Subjects will engage in 30 minutes of gentle stretching prior to word learning using Study Only (no active retrieval during learning)
Arm Title
Individuals with Aphasia
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
Participants complete all four interventions Retrieval Practice + Moderate Intensity Exercise: Subjects will engage in 30 minutes of moderate-intensity cycling prior to word learning using Retrieval Practice (active retrieval during learning) Retrieval Practice + Gentle Stretching: Subject will engage in 30 minutes of gentle upper- and lower- limb stretching prior to word learning using Retrieval Practice (active retrieval during learning) Study Only + Moderate Intensity Exercise: Subjects will engage in 30 minutes of gentle stretching prior to word learning using Study Only (no active retrieval during learning) Study Only + Gentle Stretching: Subjects will engage in 30 minutes of gentle stretching prior to word learning using Study Only (no active retrieval during learning)
Intervention Type
Behavioral
Intervention Name(s)
Retrieval Practice + Moderate Intensity Exercise
Intervention Description
Subjects will engage in 30 minutes of moderate-intensity cycling prior to word learning using Retrieval Practice (active retrieval during learning)
Intervention Type
Behavioral
Intervention Name(s)
Retrieval Practice + Gentle Stretching
Intervention Description
Subject will engage in 30 minutes of gentle upper- and lower- limb stretching prior to word learning using Retrieval Practice (active retrieval during learning)
Intervention Type
Behavioral
Intervention Name(s)
Study Only + Moderate Intensity Exercise
Intervention Description
Subjects will engage in 30 minutes of gentle stretching prior to word learning using Study Only (no active retrieval during learning)
Intervention Type
Behavioral
Intervention Name(s)
Study Only + Gentle Stretching
Intervention Description
Subjects will engage in 30 minutes of gentle stretching prior to word learning using Study Only (no active retrieval during learning)
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Study-Specific Word Recall Task
Description
Study-specific word recall task comprising trained items. Participant is shown each trained item and types the name. Acquisition: immediately after exercise or stretching on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Consolidation: immediately before exercise or stretching on Wednesday and Friday, one week after training (Friday)
Time Frame
Assessment occurs over a two-week period for each of the 4 intervention/arms: Week 1: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Week 2: Friday
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Serum BDNF Concentration Levels (pg/mL)
Description
Blood samples collected to measure serum BDNF concentration levels (pg/mL), as follows: Before moderate intensity exercise or gentle stretching Immediately after moderate intensity exercise or gentle stretching Immediately after word learning 15 minutes after word learning
Time Frame
Assessment occurs on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of Week 1 for each of the 4 intervention/arms
Title
Plasma Dopamine
Description
The investigators will collect blood samples to detect changes in plasma dopamine in the training conditions on Monday and Friday sessions, as follows:. Before exercise or stretching Immediately after exercise or stretching Immediately after word learning 15 minutes after word learning
Time Frame
Assessment occurs on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of Week 1 for each of the 4 intervention/arms

10. Eligibility

Sex
All
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
35 Years
Maximum Age & Unit of Time
89 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: monolingual English speakers "low physical activity" on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire physician's written approval for participation in moderate-intensity exercise Exclusion Criteria: VO2 max >26 (men) and 22 (women) inability to cycle for 3 minutes at 50 revolutions/minute with no resistance any comorbid condition with exercise contraindications use of hormone replacement therapy dopaminergic anti-depressant anti-psychotic or illicit drugs consumption of >14 alcoholic drinks/week or > 1pack of cigarettes/day uncorrected hearing or vision impairments that interfere with study procedures inability to read or repeat nonwords (e.g., flark) inability to learn one novel word during a practice learning task below cut-off on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment or the Comprehensive Aphasia Test Cognitive Screen and/or >10 on the Beck Depression Inventory
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Amy D. Rodriguez, PhD
Organizational Affiliation
Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA
Official's Role
Principal Investigator
Facility Information:
Facility Name
Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA
City
Decatur
State/Province
Georgia
ZIP/Postal Code
30033
Country
United States

12. IPD Sharing Statement

Plan to Share IPD
No

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Exercise Effects on Word Learning

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