Childhood Trauma, Exercise, and Cognition (CTEC)

Exercise and Cognition in Middle-Aged Adults With Histories of Childhood Trauma and Cognitive Complaints

This study aims to identify and compare the effects of acute and chronic exercise interventions on cognition in middle-aged adults with cognitive complaints and a history of abuse or neglect in childhood. Each participant will be enrolled in the study for up to 78 days, in five parts following verification that the participant meets criteria to be included in the study: 1) initial assessment; 2) first acute exercise condition in lab, symptom measures, and neuropsychological testing; 3) second acute exercise condition in lab, symptom measures, and neuropsychological testing; and 4) 9-week exercise intervention or activity as usual outside of lab, with interview, symptom measures, and neuropsychological testing at three-week intervals.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Adverse Childhood Experiences
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Moderate Intensity Exercise (one day); Behavioral: Placebo - Light Intensity Exercise (one day); Other: Day 1 Assessments; Other: Symptom Measures and Neuropsychological Tests; Behavioral: Moderate Intensity Exercise (9 wks); Other: Day 36 Assessments; Other: Day 57 Assessments; Other: Day 78 Assessments

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 34
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Texas
    • Austin, Texas, United States, 78712
      • Recruiting
      • University of Texas at Austin
      • Contact: Erin Logue; Phone Number: 512-954-5510; Email: erin.logue@austin.utexas.edu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• between 40 and 60 years of age
• history of child abuse or neglect
• have a complaint about memory, attention, or executive function
• native or fluent English speaker
• normal or corrected to normal vision and hearing
• medically healthy

Exclusion Criteria:

• Score indicating a history of moderate-intensity activity, hard-intensity activity, or very-hard intensity activity on the Stanford Brief Activity Survey
• current excessive alcohol or other substance use
• eating disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, or those judged to be an immediate suicide risk based on having an active plan with intent
• autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or other neurodevelopmental disorder
• neurocognitive disorder, or illnesses or history of neurological events known to cause neurocognitive disorders (e.g., traumatic brain injury, status epilepticus, stroke)
• reported chest pain or dizziness during exercise; any endorsed and not controlled medical condition that could make exercise contraindicated, including hypertension; heart disease; heart failure; hear rhythm disorders; heart valve disease; metabolic conditions; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; pulmonary hypertension; cystic fibrosis; asthma; and bone, joint, or soft tissue problems
• pregnancy, major medical disorders such as cancer, or any other condition believed to put a participant at risk

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Acute Exercise Moderate first; Day 1 Assessments, Day 8 Moderate Intensity Exercise (followed by symptom measures and neuropsychological tests), Day 15 Light Intensity Exercise (symptom measures and neuropsychological tests)	Behavioral: Moderate Intensity Exercise (one day); Participants will engage in 40 minutes of cycling at 70-75% maximum heart rate (MHR).; Behavioral: Placebo - Light Intensity Exercise (one day); Control participants will engage in 40 minutes cycling at 40-50% maximum heart rate (MHR).; Other: Day 1 Assessments; Cognitive complaints interview, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Revised (CESD-R), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Life Events Checklist (LEC-5), and neuropsychological testing: approximately 1.50 hours; Other: Symptom Measures and Neuropsychological Tests; Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Revised (CESD-R), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and neuropsychological testing: approximately 1.25 hours
Active Comparator: Acute Exercise Light first; Control Day 1 Assessments (symptom measures, neuropsychological tests, and cognitive complaints interview), Day 8 Light Intensity Exercise (followed by symptom measures and neuropsychological tests), Day 15 Moderate Intensity Exercise (symptom measures and neuropsychological tests)	Behavioral: Moderate Intensity Exercise (one day); Participants will engage in 40 minutes of cycling at 70-75% maximum heart rate (MHR).; Behavioral: Placebo - Light Intensity Exercise (one day); Control participants will engage in 40 minutes cycling at 40-50% maximum heart rate (MHR).; Other: Day 1 Assessments; Cognitive complaints interview, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Revised (CESD-R), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Life Events Checklist (LEC-5), and neuropsychological testing: approximately 1.50 hours; Other: Symptom Measures and Neuropsychological Tests; Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Revised (CESD-R), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and neuropsychological testing: approximately 1.25 hours
Experimental: Chronic Exercise Moderate; 9-weeks Moderate Intensity Exercise Day 36 (at 3 weeks) Assessments Day 57 (at 6 weeks) Assessments Day 78 (at 9 weeks) Assessments	Behavioral: Moderate Intensity Exercise (9 wks); Participants will be asked to engage in moderate-intensity activity four days each week, 40 minutes each time, and will wear an activity monitoring device to assess their fidelity to the intervention.; Other: Day 36 Assessments; Activity monitoring device charged and data downloaded, questions regarding fidelity to activity as usual or moderate-intensity exercise and any difficulties, Cognitive complaints interview, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Revised (CESD-R), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), neuropsychological testing, and activity monitoring device returned to participant: approximately 2.00 hours; Other: Day 57 Assessments; Activity monitoring device charged and data downloaded, questions regarding fidelity to activity as usual or moderate-intensity exercise and any difficulties, Cognitive complaints interview, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Revised (CESD-R), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), neuropsychological testing, and activity monitoring device returned to participant: approximately 2.00 hours; Other: Day 78 Assessments; Activity monitoring device charged and data downloaded, questions regarding fidelity to activity as usual or moderate-intensity exercise and any difficulties, Cognitive complaints interview, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Revised (CESD-R), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), neuropsychological testing, and activity monitoring device returned to participant: approximately 2.00 hours
No Intervention: Activity as Usual; 9-week activity as usual Day 36 (at 3 weeks) Assessments Day 57 (at 6 weeks) Assessments Day 78 (at 9 weeks) Assessments

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change from baseline cognitive complaints (i.e., total number of complaints) at 3 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.	Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. To assess cognitive complaints, an interview by the primary investigator, asking about symptoms of difficulties with attention, thinking speed, language, memory, and executive function.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 3 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Change from baseline cognitive complaints (i.e., total number of complaints) at 6 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.	Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. To assess cognitive complaints, an interview by the primary investigator, asking about symptoms of difficulties with attention, thinking speed, language, memory, and executive function.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 6 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Change from baseline cognitive complaints (i.e., total number of complaints) at 9 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.	Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. To assess cognitive complaints, an interview by the primary investigator, asking about symptoms of difficulties with attention, thinking speed, language, memory, and executive function.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 9 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Change in performance (i.e., raw score of number of words recalled, in whole numbers) on the Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales for Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L) from baseline will be compared within subjects.	The Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales for Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L) is a reliable, well-validated measure of verbal learning and memory. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 15. Higher scores indicate better memory.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline), after acute exercise condition on day 8, and after acute exercise condition on day 15.
Change in performance (i.e., raw score of total correct, in whole numbers) on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) Digit Span test from baseline will be compared within subjects.	The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) Digit Span test is a reliable, well-validated measure of auditory attention and working memory. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 48. Higher scores indicate better attention.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline), after acute exercise condition on day 8, and after acute exercise condition on day 15
Change in performance (i.e., raw scores of time to complete task, in seconds) on the Trail Making Test (TMT) from baseline will be compared within subjects.	The Trail Making Test (TMT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of visual attention, processing speed, and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 1, and the highest score is 300. Lower scores indicate better executive function.	exercise condition on day 8, and after acute exercise condition on day 15
Change in performance (i.e., raw scores of time to complete task, in seconds) on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) from baseline will be compared within subjects.	The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of visual working memory, processing speed, and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 110. Higher scores indicate faster processing speed.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline), after acute exercise condition on day 8, and after acute exercise condition on day 15
Change in performance (i.e., raw score of total correct, in whole numbers) on the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) from baseline will be compared within subjects.	The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of auditory working memory, processing speed, and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 60. Higher scores indicate better working memory.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline), after acute exercise condition on day 8, and after acute exercise condition on day 15
Change in performance (i.e., raw scores of total words generated, in whole numbers) on the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) from baseline will be compared within subjects.	The Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of language and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 180. Higher scores indicate better ability to generate words given a phonemic cue.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline), after acute exercise condition on day 8, and after acute exercise condition on day 15
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw score of number of words recalled, in whole numbers) on the Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales for Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L) at 3 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.	Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales for Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L) is a reliable, well-validated measure of verbal learning and memory. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 15. Higher scores indicate better memory.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 3 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw score of total correct, in whole numbers) on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) Digit Span test at 3 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.	Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) Digit Span test is a reliable, well-validated measure of auditory attention and working memory. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 48. Higher scores indicate better attention.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 3 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw scores of time to complete task, in seconds) on the Trail Making Test (TMT) at 3 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.	Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Trail Making Test (TMT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of visual attention, processing speed, and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 1, and the highest score is 300. Lower scores indicate better executive function.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 3 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw scores of time to complete task, in seconds) on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) at 3 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.	Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of visual working memory, processing speed, and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 110. Higher scores indicate faster processing speed.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 3 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw score of total correct, in whole numbers) on the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) at 3 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.	Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of auditory working memory, processing speed, and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 60. Higher scores indicate better working memory.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 3 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw scores of total words generated, in whole numbers) on the Controlled Oral Word Association Tet (COWAT) at 3 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.	Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of language and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 180. Higher scores indicate better ability to generate words given a phonemic cue.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 3 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw score of number of words recalled, in whole numbers) on the Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales for Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L) at 6 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.	Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales for Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L) is a reliable, well-validated measure of verbal learning and memory. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 15. Higher scores indicate better memory.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 6 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw score of total correct, in whole numbers) on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) Digit Span test at 6 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.	Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) Digit Span test is a reliable, well-validated measure of auditory attention and working memory. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 48. Higher scores indicate better attention.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 6 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw scores of time to complete task, in seconds) on the Trail Making Test (TMT) at 6 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.	Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Trail Making Test (TMT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of visual attention, processing speed, and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 1, and the highest score is 300. Lower scores indicate better executive function.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 6 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw scores of time to complete task, in seconds) on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) at 6 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.	Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of visual working memory, processing speed, and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 110. Higher scores indicate faster processing speed.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 6 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw score of total correct, in whole numbers) on the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) at 6 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.	Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of auditory working memory, processing speed, and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 60. Higher scores indicate better working memory.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 6 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw scores of total words generated, in whole numbers) on the Controlled Oral Word Association Tet (COWAT) at 6 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.	Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of language and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 180. Higher scores indicate better ability to generate words given a phonemic cue.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 6 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw score of number of words recalled, in whole numbers) on the Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales for Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L) at 9 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.	Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales for Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L) is a reliable, well-validated measure of verbal learning and memory. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 15. Higher scores indicate better memory.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 9 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw score of total correct, in whole numbers) on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) Digit Span test at 9 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.	Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) Digit Span test is a reliable, well-validated measure of auditory attention and working memory. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 48. Higher scores indicate better attention.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 9 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw scores of time to complete task, in seconds) on the Trail Making Test (TMT) at 9 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.	Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Trail Making Test (TMT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of visual attention, processing speed, and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 1, and the highest score is 300. Lower scores indicate better executive function.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 9 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw scores of time to complete task, in seconds) on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) at 9 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.	Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of visual working memory, processing speed, and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 110. Higher scores indicate faster processing speed.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 9 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw score of total correct, in whole numbers) on the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) at 9 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.	Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of auditory working memory, processing speed, and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 60. Higher scores indicate better working memory.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 9 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw scores of total words generated, in whole numbers) on the Controlled Oral Word Association Tet (COWAT) at 9 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.	Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of language and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 180. Higher scores indicate better ability to generate words given a phonemic cue.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 9 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in total score on the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5).	The Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) a 20-item widely used questionnaire to assess the severity of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 80. Higher scores indicate worse symptoms of PTSD.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline); after acute exercise condition on day 8; after acute exercise condition on day 15; and after 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 9 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Change in total score on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Revised (CESD-R).	The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Revised (CESD-R) is a 20-item self-report measure of depression symptoms used in research. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 60. Higher scores indicate worse symptoms of depression.	one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline); after acute exercise condition on day 8; after acute exercise condition on day 15; and after 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 9 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Texas at Austin
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Erin Logue, PhD, University of Texas at Austin

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 27, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 4, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 4, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 3, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 23, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): August 2, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): December 1, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 27, 2023
• Last Verified: November 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: STUDY00004558

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