How exercise-released molecules affect blood vessel and brain blood flow with aging in men and women
Official title: Exerkines and the heterogeneity of peripheral and cerebral vascular adaptations to exercise training with aging in women and men
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-11170760 · Data updated 2026-11-12
We will see whether a 12-week aerobic exercise program changes blood vessel health and brain blood flow in younger, middle-aged, and older men and women and whether exercise-released molecules (exerkines) explain differences in response.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,274,001 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG089069-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11170760 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 18 years and older, including middle-aged and older men and women who can safely perform moderate-to-vigorous aerobic exercise and attend in-person testing, would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who cannot safely exercise (for example due to unstable heart disease, severe mobility limitations, or advanced dementia) are unlikely to benefit from participating.
What this research studies
You would be randomly assigned to a supervised aerobic exercise program (3 times per week for 12 weeks) or a non-exercise control group. The team will measure blood vessel function in the arm (brachial artery flow-mediated dilation) and cerebral blood flow before and after the 12 weeks. They will also take blood samples to measure circulating exercise-related molecules (including endothelial microvesicles) that might communicate exercise effects to the body and brain. The study enrolls younger, middle-aged, and older adults balanced by sex to understand age and sex differences.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could help personalize exercise recommendations and identify blood markers that predict who will get vascular and brain benefits from aerobic exercise, which may reduce Alzheimer’s risk.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research shows aerobic exercise can improve vascular and brain blood flow, but using exerkines and directly comparing age and sex differences is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Moreau, Kerrie — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Moreau, Kerrie
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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.