Investigating how acute pain affects motor learning in young and older adults
Effects of Acute Pain on Motor Learning in Young vs Older Adults
This study is testing how short-term pain affects the ability to learn and remember movement skills in both young and older adults.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 68 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 85 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Delaware Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Newark, Delaware) |
| Trial ID | NCT05471557 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This research aims to explore the effects of acute pain on locomotor learning and retention in both young and older adults. The study hypothesizes that acute pain negatively impacts the retention of motor skills, with older adults experiencing greater deficits due to age-related cognitive decline. Participants will undergo experimental pain or non-painful electrical stimulation to assess these effects. The study will include healthy individuals aged 18-35 for the young adult group and 55-85 for the older adult group.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates include healthy young adults aged 18-35 and older adults aged 55-85 who can participate in the study's assessments.
Not a fit: Patients with significant mental health conditions, cognitive impairments, or those outside the specified age ranges may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved understanding and strategies for enhancing motor learning in individuals experiencing acute pain, particularly in older adults.
How similar studies have performed: While the effects of pain on motor learning have been explored, this specific focus on age-related differences is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Abbreviations: YA= young adult; OA= older adult; HR= heart rate, bpm= beats per minute; BP= blood pressure; ADD= attention deficit disorder; ADHD= attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; MoCA= Montreal Cognitive Assessment; GAD-7= Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 Scale; PHQ-2, PHQ-9= Patient Health Questionnaire-2 and -9. Inclusion Criteria: 1. 18-35 (YA group only) or 55-85 (OA group only) years old 2. Sex-matched to a participant in the OA group (YA group only) 3. Self-identifying as generally medically healthy 4. Able to read, write and speak English 5. Able to provide informed consent and attend all testing sessions 6. Willing to undergo the experimental pain or non-painful electrical stimulation, if selected Exclusion Criteria: 1. Resting HR \< 50 or \> 100 bpm 2. Resting BP \< 90/60 or \> 140/95 mmHg (YA group only) or \> 165/95 (OA group only) 3. Any history or current mental health condition, learning/developmental disability or cognitive impairment, including severe untreated ADD/ADHD, severe untreated anxiety, severe untreated depression, autism spectrum disorder, insomnia, mild cognitive impairment, etc. 4. Score on the MoCA \<23 5. Score on the GAD-7 ≥ 10 6. Score on the PHQ-2 ≥ 2 and score on the PHQ-9 ≥ 10 7. Any current (within last 3 month) or chronic medical conditions, including any musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, endocrine, pulmonary, metabolic, psychiatric or neurological diagnosis that (for OA group only) affects activities of daily living or would confound testing or place the subject at risk by participating, such as a significant cardiovascular condition or event (e.g., heart attack \< 3 months ago, uncontrolled atrial fibrillation, uncontrolled angina, or congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, peripheral vascular disease) 8. Any impaired sensation or weakness in either lower extremity or in the area targeted for the stimulus 9. History of serious concussion or head injury, defined as a loss of consciousness for \> 5 minutes and/or requiring medical treatment, or \> 2 concussions over the lifespan 10. Any history of acute or chronic problems with balance, any dizziness, or \> 1 fall in the last 12 months 11. Taking 4 or more medications (YA group only) 12. Currently or regularly using any analgesic medications, over-the-counter remedies, or any other treatment for the purposes of pain relief (i.e., baby aspirin for heart health permitted, etc.) 13. Any current or chronic pain condition during the last year, located anywhere in the body with a (OA group only) pain intensity of \> 2/10 14. Allergy to capsaicin or hot peppers 15. Any skin lesion, breakage or irritation in the area targeted for the painful stimulus 16. Skin sensitivity to soaps/creams/perfumes or to heat 17. Poor circulation in the area targeted for the painful stimulus 18. Prior participation in a locomotor learning study in this lab within the last 2 years or prior participation in a study in this lab that included the cognitive testing battery within the last 2 years.
Where this trial is running
Newark, Delaware
- University of Delaware — Newark, Delaware, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Susanne M Morton, PhD — University of Delaware
- Study coordinator: Ashley Fath
- Email: fath@udel.edu
- Phone: 302-283-9936
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.