The effects of an extensive exercise programme on the progression of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

BMC Geriatrics

Study Protocol

Marit L. Sanders¹  Marcel G. M. Olde Rikkert¹  Kate E. Devenney²  Stefan Schneider³  Brian Lawlor⁴ 

[1] Department of Geriatric Medicine, Radboud Alzheimer Centre, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands;Discipline of Physiotherapy, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland;Institute of Movement and Neurosciences, German Sport University Cologne, Cologne, Germany;Faculty for Science, Health, Education and Engineering, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore, Australia;Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience, Dublin, Ireland;

关键词: Mild cognitive impairment;    Exercise intervention;    Physical activity;    Cognitive function;    Brain structure;    Frailty;    Epigenetics;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12877-017-0457-9

 received in 2016-09-29, accepted in 2017-03-03,  发布年份 2017

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundExercise interventions to prevent dementia and delay cognitive decline have gained considerable attention in recent years. Human and animal studies have demonstrated that regular physical activity targets brain function by increasing cognitive reserve. There is also evidence of structural changes caused by exercise in preventing or delaying the genesis of neurodegeneration. Although initial studies indicate enhanced cognitive performance in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) following an exercise intervention, little is known about the effect of an extensive, controlled and regular exercise regimen on the neuropathology of patients with MCI. This study aims to determine the effects of an extensive exercise programme on the progression of MCI.Methods/designThis randomised controlled clinical intervention study will take place across three European sites. Seventy-five previously sedentary patients with a clinical diagnosis of MCI will be recruited at each site. Participants will be randomised to one of three groups. One group will receive a standardised 1-year extensive aerobic exercise intervention (3 units of 45 min/week). The second group will complete stretching and toning (non-aerobic) exercise (3 units of 45 min/week) and the third group will act as the control group. Change in all outcomes will be measured at baseline (T0), after six months (T1) and after 12 months (T2). The primary outcome, cognitive performance, will be determined by a neuropsychological test battery (CogState battery, Trail Making Test and Verbal fluency). Secondary outcomes include Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), cardiovascular fitness, physical activity, structural changes of the brain, quality of life measures and measures of frailty. Furthermore, outcome variables will be related to genetic variations on genes related to neurogenesis and epigenetic changes in these genes caused by the exercise intervention programme.DiscussionThe results will add new insights into the prevailing notion that exercise may slow the rate of cognitive decline in MCI.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02913053

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© The Author(s). 2017