Brain Vascular and Neural Function Linked to Balance Across the Adult Lifespan

March 26, 2026 updated by: University of Minnesota
This is a single-arm, two-visit, non-randomized, cross sectional study identified as an intervention due to the use of a single bout of aerobic exercise to assess cerebrovascular function under the NIH rules. This study is not masked and its primary purpose is to develop a basic science understanding of the relationship between cerebrovascular health and balance control with aging. This study will involve 102 individuals classified as younger adults, middle-aged adults, and older adults who are neurotypical and cognitively normal. The primary outcome from a clinical trials perspective will be cerebrovascular response to a bout of aerobic exercise (i.e. change in cerebral blood flow with the performance of aerobic exercise on a recumbent stepper exercise machine). Non-interventional outcomes will be EEG measures of cortical activity and biomechanical kinetic and kinematic data recorded during standing balance reactions, as well as biological blood samples for genomic analysis.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

102

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 Contact

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Minnesota
      • Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55414
        • Recruiting
        • University of Minnesota
        • Contact:

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

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age within the following 3 group age ranges, 21-30yo; middle-aged: 40-55yo; older: 65-95yo adults
  • the absence of major orthopedic disability
  • cognitively normal (MoCA score ≥ 26/30 in older adult group)
  • vision that is 20/40 or better with or without corrective lenses, (5) the ability to consent and communicate with researchers
  • English speaking
  • ability to stand for 3 minutes and walk 10 meters with or without an assistive device and without the assistance of another person.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • insulin-dependent diabetes
  • peripheral neuropathy
  • myocardial infarction or symptoms of coronary artery disease within 2 years
  • congestive heart failure or class IV heart failure
  • any significant sensory impairment affecting balance or cognition; visual, vestibular, or auditory impairments.

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: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Experimental group
Healthy participants in 3 age groups
Behavioral: aerobic exercise
use of single bout of aerobic exercise

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
cerebral blood flow velocity assessed using transcranial Doppler ultrasound
Time Frame: 1 week
Includes recordings from transcranial Doppler ultrasound of cerebral blood flow (CBF) velocity performed at the first session during rest, sit-to-stand, transfer, and single bout of aerobic exercise.
1 week
Kinetic center of pressure rate of rise post-balance perturbation, assessed biomechanically.
Time Frame: 1 week
Recordings from 64-channels of EEG electrodes, kinetic, and kinematic biomechanical data during standing balance reactions will be collected.
1 week
Prefrontal-M1 coherence an S1-M1 coherence post-balance perturbation, assessed using EEG
Time Frame: 1 week
Recordings from 64-channels of EEG electrodes, kinetic, and kinematic biomechanical data during standing balance reactions will be collected.
1 week

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

University of Minnesota

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Jacqueline Palmer, University of Minnesota

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)

October 15, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

October 29, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 7, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

November 13, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 27, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 26, 2026

Last Verified

March 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • PT-2023-32375

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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