High‑ versus moderate‑intensity exercise for brain health in type 2 diabetes

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

Researchers will compare two supervised exercise programs (high and moderate intensity) to a non‑exercise control over a six‑month period with sessions three times weekly. Participants will have brain MRI scans, cognitive testing, and blood samples taken before and after the intervention to measure brain metabolism, perfusion, and cognitive function. Eligible participants are adults 30–75 with type 2 diabetes not treated with insulin and who are physically inactive, while people with major cardiovascular, neurological, or MRI contraindications are excluded. The trial is conducted at Hasselt University with clinical collaborators in the region.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* type 2 diabetes
* no insulin therapy
* 30-75 years old
* physically inactive

Exclusion Criteria:

* MRI contraindications
* psychological disorders
* exogenous insulin therapy
* history of coma, transient ischemic attack, head trauma, brain tumor, stroke, epilepsy, and other central nervous system diseases that could cause dementia or presence of dementia before T2DM
* suffering from any disease with significant impact on exercise intervention participation such as: chronic heart disease (e.g. valve insufficiency ≥ grade 2) or significant arrhythmias, cardiac events less than one year ago (myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft, percutaneous coronary intervention), clinical heart failure (oedema, shortness of breath), percutaneous coronary intervention less than one year ago, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cerebrovascular or peripheral vascular disease
* severe hypertension (\>160/110 mmHg)
* ongoing cancer, severe neuropathy (limiting exercise participation)
* renal disease (GRF \<45 ml/min/1,73 m2)
* inability to regularly participate in the exercise intervention
* pregnancy
* breastfeeding

Where it's running

• Hasselt University
  Hasselt, Limburg, Belgium Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Dominique Hansen, Full professor — Hasselt University
• Study coordinator: Dominique Hansen, Full Professor
• Email: dominique.hansen@uhasselt.be
• Phone: +3211292126

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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.