N/A
N=28
Exercise Effects on Word Learning
Aging · Aphasia
Bottom Line
View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03370471 ↗Enrolled (actual)
28
Serious AEs
0.0%
Results posted
Sep 2021
Primary outcome: Primary: Study-Specific Word Recall Task — 6.4; 1.7; 4.6; 1.5 number of words gained
Study Design & Population
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- N/A
- Interventions
- Retrieval Practice + Moderate Intensity Exercise (Behavioral); Retrieval Practice + Gentle Stretching (Behavioral); Study Only + Moderate Intensity Exercise (Behavioral); Study Only + Gentle Stretching (Behavioral)
- Age
- Adult, Older Adult · 35+ yrs
- Sex
- All
- Sponsor
- VA Office of Research and Development
- Primary completion
- Aug 2019
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Study-Specific Word Recall Task |
6.4; 1.7; 4.6; 1.5; 4.8; 1.7 | — |
| SECONDARY Serum BDNF Concentration Levels (pg/mL) |
195.50; 137.83; 218.98; 156.01; 209.95; 153.70 | — |
| SECONDARY Plasma Dopamine |
— | — |
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.
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
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03370471). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication.