Physical Activity and Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Novel Role for GPLD1 (BrainFit)

The investigators are conducting a cross-sectional, observational study to investigate whether plasma GPLD1 concentrations are associated with higher cognitive function and better brain structure and function in two groups of older adults with high or low levels of physical activity.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Cognitive Dysfunction; Aging
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Brain Health Assessments

Detailed Description

This is a cross-sectional, observational study which will enroll up to 28 healthy, older adults (65-85 y, BMI 20-35 kg/m2), and stratify by current self-reported physical activity level (equal inactive vs. equal highly active).

Aim 1: Investigate whether physical activity level is associated with GPLD1.

Aim 2: Investigate whether cognitive function and brain structure/function are associated with GPLD1.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 25

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Louisiana
    • Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States, 70808
      • Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 65 years to 85 years (Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Up to 28 healthy, older adults (ages 65-85 y, BMI 20-35 kg/m2) stratified by current physical activity level will be enrolled. The investigators will enroll an equal number of inactive adults and an equal number of highly active adults.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ages 65-85 y (inclusive)
• Body mass index (BMI) of 20-35 kg/m2 (inclusive)
• Willing to have blood and data stored for future research use

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of clinically diagnosed diabetes (Type 1 or 2) or a fasting blood glucose >126 mg/dL
• Diagnosed Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or related-brain diseases
• Chronic use of atypical antipsychotic or bipolar medications
• Initiation of novel pharmacotherapy agents (such as antidepressant, hypertension, or dyslipidemia) within the last 3 months
• Uncontrolled hypertension (blood pressure >160 systolic or >110 diastolic)
• Asthma that limits the ability to participate in moderate to vigorous physical activity or requiring systemic glucocorticoid administration
• Emphysema that limits the ability to participate in moderate to vigorous physical activity or requiring systemic glucocorticoid administration
• Current alcohol use exceeding 14 drinks per week in women, exceeding 21 drinks per week in men, having treatment for alcohol abuse in the last year, or having treatment for alcohol abuse more than 1 year ago (but with inability to refrain from alcohol in the past year)
• Use of illegal drugs or marijuana within 1-month of completing a Screening Visit; treatment for drug addiction in the 1-year or having treatment for drug addiction >1-year ago, but with an inability to refrain from the drug of addiction in the 1-year
• Unwilling to abstain from illegal drugs and marijuana for the duration of the study
• Contraindication for MRI (e.g., metal objects, claustrophobia, etc.)
• Psychotic mental illness (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar, on-and- off use of anti-psychotic medication)
• History of cardiovascular disease (or diseases of the heart, lungs, or blood) that limits participation in moderate to vigorous physical activity
• History of liver, blood, kidney, thyroid or other diseases that limits moderate to vigorous physical activity at the time of enrollment
• Cancer that limits moderate to vigorous physical activity
• Treatment with systemic immunosuppressant medication
• Taking adrenergic stimulants (e.g., amphetamine) or adrenergic blockers (e.g., Propanolol) that will alter metabolic rate
• Have plans to substantially alter their current level of physical activity over the next 1-month

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Cross-Sectional

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Inactive; Older adults who have a sedentary or under-active lifestyle.	Behavioral: Brain Health Assessments; The investigators are enrolling up to 28 healthy, older adults (ages 65-85 y, BMI 20-35 kg/m2) stratified by current physical activity level (equal inactive vs. equal highly active). Each physical activity group (inactive and highly active) will undergo a blood draw, body composition, resting metabolic rate, cognitive testing, and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.
Highly Active; Older adults who have a highly active lifestyle.	Behavioral: Brain Health Assessments; The investigators are enrolling up to 28 healthy, older adults (ages 65-85 y, BMI 20-35 kg/m2) stratified by current physical activity level (equal inactive vs. equal highly active). Each physical activity group (inactive and highly active) will undergo a blood draw, body composition, resting metabolic rate, cognitive testing, and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Plasma concentrations of GPLD1	Plasma GPLD1 (by a blood draw) is performed.	1 day

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Physical activity level	Physical activity level assessment (by accelerometry) is performed.	7 days
Total grey matter volume	Total grey matter volume (by structural MRI) is performed.	1 day
Brain activity and function	Brain activity and function (by functional MRI) during execution of two cognitive tasks (Stroop Task and Attention Network Task (ANT)) is performed.	1 day
Cognitive function	Cognitive function testing (using the NIH Toolbox Cognitive Battery) is performed.	1 day

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 17, 2022
• Study Completion (Actual): March 17, 2022

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 22, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 22, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): November 27, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): November 16, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 11, 2022
• Last Verified: November 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Neurocognitive Disorders; Cognition Disorders; Cognitive Dysfunction
• Other Study ID Numbers: PBRC 2020-050

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No