Acute Effects of Cold Exposure on Cognitive Function

February 25, 2025 updated by: Renjie Chen, Fudan University

Acute Effects of Cold Exposure on Cognitive Function and Underlying Mechanism

This is a randomized controlled human exposure crossover study. Investigators aims to assess the acute effects of low-temperature exposure on cognitive function and the underlying mechanisms.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The investigators will conduct a randomized controlled human exposure crossover study among about 40 healthy young adults in Shanghai, China. Each subject will be exposed twice: once to the low temperature (15℃) and once to the moderate temperature (22℃) in a chamber for about 2 hours. During the exposure session, each subject will be requested to rest. Health examinations will be conducted immediately prior to exposure, during the period of exposure, and after exposure. Health examinations include cognitive function tests and magnetic resonance imaging. Investigators plan to collect blood and urine samples.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
40

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • China
    • Shanghai
      • Shanghai, Shanghai, China, 200032
        • Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Fudan University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Living in Shanghai during the study period;
  • Body mass index > 18.5 and ≤ 28;
  • right-handed;
  • receiving or having received higher education;
  • with the ability to read and understand Chinese smoothly.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Smoking and alcohol abuse;
  • Current drug and dietary supplements intake;
  • Subjects with allergic diseases, such as allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, and atopy;
  • Subjects with cardiovascular diseases, such as congenital heart disease, pulmonary heart disease, and hypertension;
  • Subjects with respiratory diseases, such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease;
  • Subjects with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, chronic hepatitis, and kidney disease;
  • Subjects who have a history of major surgery due to the cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, respiratory, or neurological diseases;
  • Subjects with neurologic disorders, such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, and schizophrenia;
  • Abnormal spirometry (FEV1 and FVC ≤ 75% of predicted and FEV1/FVC ≤ 0.65);
  • Subjects with color vision disabilities.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Moderate temperature (22℃) group
Subjects in the exposure group will be exposed to moderate temperature (22℃) for about 2 hours in a chamber.
Other: Moderate temperature (22℃) group
The exposure group will be exposed to thermoneutral temperature (22℃) in a chamber for about 2 hours, resting during the whole period.
Experimental: Low temperature (15℃) group
Subjects in the exposure group will be exposed to low temperature (15℃) for about 2 hours in a chamber.
Other: Low temperature (15℃) group
The exposure group will be exposed to low temperature (15℃) in a chamber for about 2 hours, resting during the whole period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Results of Stroop Tests
Time Frame: before exposure and immediately after the exposure session
Investigators plan to measure the changes of cognitive function using Stroop Test. The time taken to complete the test could reflect cognitive function, and a shorter time means better cognitive function.
before exposure and immediately after the exposure session

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Activated brain regions demonstrating neural activity related to the high temperature exposure
Time Frame: 1 hour after exposure session
Investigators plan to measure brain activity associated with high temperature exposure by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Brain imaging data will be extracted from MRI data. The fractional amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (fALFF) would be extracted to reflect neural activity of brain regions.
1 hour after exposure session
Activated brain regions demonstrating neural connectivity related to the high temperature exposure
Time Frame: 1 hour after exposure session
Investigators plan to measure brain activity associated with high temperature exposure by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Brain imaging data will be extracted from MRI data. The degree of centrality (DC) would be extracted to reflect neural connectivity of brain regions.
1 hour after exposure session
Activated brain regions demonstrating neural synchronization related to the high temperature exposure
Time Frame: 1 hour after exposure session
Investigators plan to measure brain activity associated with high temperature exposure by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Brain imaging data will be extracted from MRI data. The regional homogeneity (ReHo) would be extracted to reflect neural synchronization of brain regions.
1 hour after exposure session
Results of simple reaction time
Time Frame: before exposure and immediately after the exposure session
Investigators plan to measure the changes of cognitive function using visual memory test
before exposure and immediately after the exposure session
Changes of skin temperature
Time Frame: Skin temperature will be examined during the 2-hour exposure session (i.e., 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. on the day of the exposure session)
The changes of wrist skin temperature will be measured
Skin temperature will be examined during the 2-hour exposure session (i.e., 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. on the day of the exposure session)

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Changes of the scores of thermal sensation questionnaires
Time Frame: before exposure and immediately after the exposure session
Changes of scores of thermal sensation questionnaires which ranged from -5 to 5. Zero score refers to the thermal comfort sensation. Higher scores refer to more uncomfortable sensations of hot. Lower scores refer to more uncomfortable sensations of cold.
before exposure and immediately after the exposure session
Change in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concentrations
Time Frame: 1:00 P.M. on the day of the exposure session, 1 hour after the exposure session
Change in the concentrations of BDNF in blood.
1:00 P.M. on the day of the exposure session, 1 hour after the exposure session
Change in glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) concentrations
Time Frame: 1:00 P.M. on the day of the exposure session, 1 hour after the exposure session
Change in the concentrations of GDNF in blood.
1:00 P.M. on the day of the exposure session, 1 hour after the exposure session
Differences in RNA expression levels detected in serum transcriptomics between the two exposures
Time Frame: 1 hour after the exposure session
Illumina-based transcriptomics is non-targeted. The study is to find the differentially expressed exosome RNA in serum after low temperature exposure
1 hour after the exposure session
Change in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentrations
Time Frame: 1:00 P.M. on the day of the exposure session, 1 hour after the exposure session
Change in the concentrations of GABA in blood.
1:00 P.M. on the day of the exposure session, 1 hour after the exposure session
Change in Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) concentrations
Time Frame: 1:00 P.M. on the day of the exposure session, 1 hour after the exposure session
Change in the concentrations of IL-1β in blood.
1:00 P.M. on the day of the exposure session, 1 hour after the exposure session
Change in Interferon-β (IFN-β) concentrations
Time Frame: 1:00 P.M. on the day of the exposure session, 1 hour after the exposure session
Change in the concentrations of IFN-β in blood.
1:00 P.M. on the day of the exposure session, 1 hour after the exposure session
Change in glutathione (GSH) concentrations
Time Frame: 1:00 P.M. on the day of the exposure session, 1 hour after the exposure session
Change in the concentrations of GSH in blood.
1:00 P.M. on the day of the exposure session, 1 hour after the exposure session

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Fudan University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Director: Haidong Kan, PhD, Fudan University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 16, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
November 16, 2024

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
October 15, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 21, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
October 23, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
March 25, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 25, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
February 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • IRB#2024-10-1168

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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