Aging and Cortical Excitability (ACE)

Effects of Aging on Cortical Excitability During Motor Learning

The objective of the current proposal is to identify 1) how aging-related changes in GABAergic cortical inhibition affect motor performance, and 2) how aerobic exercise may improve inhibitory function and facilitate motor learning.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Aging
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Aerobic Exercise; Behavioral: Stretching and Balance Training

Detailed Description

The current proposal seeks quantify neural inhibition using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in older Veterans to identify how each measures contributes to aging-related changes in motor performance. Currently, over 56% (11.8 million) of Veterans are over age 60. Recent research has shown that aging is associated with decreased cortical inhibition and impaired hand motor function. However, this loss of inhibition is not an inescapable consequence of aging. The investigators' previous work that healthy older adults who engage in regular physical activity show increased cortical inhibition and improved dexterity as compared to their sedentary age cohort. This indicates that aerobic training may reverse aging related changes in cortical inhibition and alteration of tonic levels of cortical excitability can have a powerful impact on motor performance in the aging brain. In the current proposal, the investigators will enroll older adults to assess how different measurements (TMS and MRS) of the dominant inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain - GABA differ in relation to motor control. During the MRS scan, participants will perform a motor learning task to assess change in GABA level throughout the acquisition session. These data will be compared with measures of cortical inhibition using TMS to quantify neurotransmitter receptor activity with respect to aging-related changes in motor performance. The investigators will also be comparing the effects of an aerobic exercise intervention as compared to a contact matched stretching control. The investigators believe this project is the first inquiry of its kind and will have an important impact in the understanding of aging-related neurophysiological changes in the brain and how it can remediate associated behavioral declines.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 30
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Medina O Bello; Phone Number: 206967 (404) 321-6111; Email: medina.bello@va.gov
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Joe R Nocera, PhD; Phone Number: 6354 (404) 321-6111; Email: joe.nocera2@va.gov

Study Locations

• United States
  • Washington
    • Decatur, Washington, United States, 30033-4004
      • Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 50 years to 85 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• living persons aged 50-85

Exclusion Criteria:

• unmanaged diabetes
• participants completing vigorous exercise per week
• participants whose profession requires vigorous physical labor
• contraindication to magnetic resonance imaging

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Aerobic Exercise; Participants will engage in an aerobic exercise program meeting thrice weekly for a period of 12 weeks.	Behavioral: Aerobic Exercise; Participants will engage in an aerobic exercise program meeting thrice weekly for a period of 12 weeks.; Other Names: AE; Exercise
Active Comparator: Stretching and Balance Training; Participants will engage in a balance and stretching comparator condition meeting thrice weekly for 12 weeks.	Behavioral: Stretching and Balance Training; Participants will engage in a balance and stretching comparator condition meeting thrice weekly for 12 weeks.; Other Names: BAL; Balance

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy	Measuring changes in dynamic magnetic resonance spectroscopy of primary motor cortex during motor learning.	Pre/Post 12 week intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation	Measure changes in TMS measures of cortical excitability pre/post intervention.	Pre/Post 12 week intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Joe R. Nocera, PhD, Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 4, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 30, 2023
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 30, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 20, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 20, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): November 23, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 16, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 12, 2023
• Last Verified: October 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: aging
• Other Study ID Numbers: E2619-R

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
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No