Effect of Aging on Cortical Excitability and Motor Learning (ACE)

April 1, 2025 updated by: VA Office of Research and Development

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

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

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

  • 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 Locations

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

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

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

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

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
Time Frame: Baseline and12 weeks
Measuring changes in dynamic magnetic resonance spectroscopy of primary motor cortex during motor learning.
Baseline and12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

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

Collaborators and Investigators

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

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

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)

March 4, 2019

Primary Completion (Actual)

September 30, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

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)

April 3, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 1, 2025

Last Verified

April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

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

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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