How exercise affects blood vessel health as we age

Exerkines and the heterogeneity of peripheral and cerebral vascular adaptations to exercise training with aging in women and men

NIH-funded research University of Colorado Denver · NIH-10978109

This study is looking at how regular aerobic exercise can help keep blood vessels healthy as we get older, and it’s for both younger and older adults, including men and women, who will take part in a 12-week exercise program to see how their vascular health changes.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Colorado Denver NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES)
Project IDNIH-10978109 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how regular aerobic exercise influences the health of blood vessels in the brain and body as people age. It focuses on understanding the differences in response to exercise between younger and older adults, as well as between men and women. Participants will engage in a 12-week aerobic exercise program, with assessments of their vascular health before and after the intervention. The study aims to uncover the biological factors that contribute to variations in vascular health improvements from exercise.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include healthy adults aged 18 and older, particularly those interested in understanding how exercise can benefit their vascular health.

Not a fit: Patients with severe cardiovascular conditions or those unable to participate in aerobic exercise may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved exercise recommendations that enhance vascular health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and Alzheimer's disease in older adults.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that aerobic exercise can positively impact vascular health, making this study a continuation of established findings with a focus on age and sex differences.

Where this research is happening

Aurora, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Alzheimer disease dementia
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.