Active cycling program to support vision and daily living in Veterans with AMD
Official title: The Active AMD Study to Improve Function in Veterans with Age Related Macular Degeneration
Funded at Veterans Health Administration · NIH-11456784 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A 6-month online group spin cycling program is tested to help Veterans with age-related macular degeneration maintain vision and improve daily functioning.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Health Administration NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Decatur, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | November 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01RX004563-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11456784 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans aged 50 or older with intermediate AMD who can participate in an online group spin cycling program.
✕Less likely to help
Veterans without access to online participation or those with advanced AMD not expected to benefit from aerobic cycling may see limited or no improvements.
What this research studies
This project will enroll Veterans with AMD to participate in a synchronous online spin cycling program for six months. It builds on prior animal and human work suggesting aerobic exercise can help retinal health and visual function, applying it in a real-world setting through virtual group sessions. The study will measure changes in visual outcomes (like visual acuity and contrast sensitivity) as well as physical and cognitive functioning and daily living activities. By comparing the spin cycling group to a non-aerobic control group, researchers aim to understand the potential benefits of aerobic exercise for people living with AMD.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help preserve vision-related abilities and improve quality of life for Veterans with AMD.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary human data suggest aerobic exercise can modestly improve visual function in older adults with AMD, supporting further testing.
Where this research is happening
-
Veterans Health Administration
Decatur, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nocera, Joe Robert — Veterans Health Administration
- Study coordinator: Nocera, Joe Robert
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Transplanting stem-cell–derived retinal cells to treat dry AMD
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RPESC-derived RPE Transplant for Dry AMD in adults
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-
New high-resolution OCT biomarkers to map early AMD changes
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Targeting inflammation in age-related macular degeneration
Aims to understand how inflammation drives age-related macular degeneration in people and explore new targets to slow or stop vision loss.
-
Early atrophic AMD: understanding how the disease progresses to protect vision
This NIH grant studies how age-related macular degeneration advances in its early atrophic stage to help prevent vision loss.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.