High-intensity interval training breaks to improve brain health in older adults

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This trial investigates the effects of interrupting prolonged sitting with high-intensity interval training (HIIT) versus light-intensity interval training (LIIT) on brain health in cognitively normal older adults aged 40-75. Participants will engage in two conditions lasting 3.5 hours each, with brain function assessed through electroencephalography and cognitive performance evaluated using specific tasks. The study aims to determine if HIIT breaks can enhance cognitive functions and brain connectivity compared to LIIT. A randomized crossover design will be employed to ensure robust results.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age 40-75 years
2. BMI \<40 kg/m2
3. Sedentary (≥ 6 h/day sitting by a survey question)
4. Physically inactive adults based on the CSEP-PATH: Physical Activity and Sedentayr Behaviour Questionnaire (PASB-Q) Adult (low or medium physical activity range equivalent to less than 300 min of moderate intensity physical activity per week)
5. Capable of exercising vigorously based on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PARQ+)
6. Has a medical clearance for maximal exercise and HIIT from a physician
7. Normotensive or participant's blood pressure is controlled
8. Intelligence quotient (IQ) ≥85
9. Fasting plasma glucose \<126 mg/dL
10. Good or corrected vision and hearing
11. Right-handed
12. No significant abnormalities on the ECG during the maximal exercise test
13. No signs and symptoms that suggest an underlying cardiovascular disease as recorded during the maximal exercise test by a study physician.
14. No indications to prematurely stop the maximal exercise test as outlined by the ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription
15. Concussion if more than 12 months before the study screening.
16. History of cancer but in full remission for at least 12 months and no history of chemotherapy, signed off by the physician or an oncologist

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Physical disability or musculoskeletal disease prohibitive to vigorous exercise
2. Learning disabilities
3. Cognitive impairment (MoCA \<26)
4. Type 1 or 2 diabetes
5. Neurological condition (e.g., Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson, Dementia, Mild Cognitive Impairment)
6. Color blindness
7. Brain injury (e.g., traumatic brain injury, stroke, concussion)
8. Migraine headaches
9. Presence of other health conditions that may be exacerbated by exercise
10. History of heart disease
11. High cholesterol not controlled by medication
12. Signs and symptoms indicative of underlying cardiovascular disease
13. A chronic pulmonary disease
14. Emphysema
15. Pulmonary embolus
16. Asthma
17. History of renal disease
18. History of seizures
19. A neuropsychiatric disorder
20. Osteoporosis if it interferes with an individual's ability to exercise
21. Severe back problems
22. Severe arthritis if it interferes with an individual's ability to exercise
23. Thyroid disorder not controlled by medication
24. Polyneuropathy
25. Sleep disorders
26. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
27. Hepatitis C
28. History of long Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
29. History of cancer if not in full remission for at least 12 months and if a participant had the history of chemotherapy
30. Current or past smoking \<12 months
31. Corticosteroid intake \< 31 days before screening
32. Opioids taken \< 6 months from screening
33. Anabolic androgens taken \< 31 days before screening
34. A serious illness or hospitalization in the last six months
35. Currently taking medications that can affect the central nervous system (except for anxiolytics)
36. Current participation in an ongoing trial likely to influence exercise ability or cognitive function

Where it's running

• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  Urbana, Illinois, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Dominika M Pindus, Ph.D. — University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Study coordinator: Dominika M Pindus, Ph.D.
• Email: pindus@illinois.edu
• Phone: 217-300-7317

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.