Effect of Aging on Cortical Excitability and Motor Learning (ACE)

VA Office of Research and Development

Status: Completed

Conditions: Aging

Treatments: Behavioral: Stretching and Balance Training; Behavioral: Aerobic Exercise

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT03750903

E2619-R

Details and patient eligibility

About

The objective of the current proposal is to identify 1) how aging-related changes in GABAergic cortical inhibition affect motor performance, and 2) how aerobic exercise may improve inhibitory function and facilitate motor learning.

Full description

The current proposal seeks quantify neural inhibition using magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in older Veterans to identify how each measures contributes to aging-related changes in motor performance. Currently, over 56% (11.8 million) of Veterans are over age 60. Recent research has shown that aging is associated with decreased cortical inhibition and impaired hand motor function. However, this loss of inhibition is not an inescapable consequence of aging. The investigators' previous work that healthy older adults who engage in regular physical activity show increased cortical inhibition and improved dexterity as compared to their sedentary age cohort. This indicates that aerobic training may reverse aging related changes in cortical inhibition and alteration of tonic levels of cortical excitability can have a powerful impact on motor performance in the aging brain. In the current proposal, the investigators will enroll older adults to assess how different measurements (TMS and MRS) of the dominant inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain - GABA differ in relation to motor control. During the MRS scan, participants will perform a motor learning task to assess change in GABA level throughout the acquisition session. These data will be compared with measures of cortical inhibition using TMS to quantify neurotransmitter receptor activity with respect to aging-related changes in motor performance. The investigators will also be comparing the effects of an aerobic exercise intervention as compared to a contact matched stretching control. The investigators believe this project is the first inquiry of its kind and will have an important impact in the understanding of aging-related neurophysiological changes in the brain and how it can remediate associated behavioral declines.

Enrollment: 30 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 50 to 85 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• living persons aged 50-85

Exclusion criteria

• unmanaged diabetes
• participants completing vigorous exercise per week
• participants whose profession requires vigorous physical labor
• contraindication to magnetic resonance imaging

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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30 participants in 2 patient groups

Aerobic Exercise

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will engage in an aerobic exercise program meeting thrice weekly for a period of 12 weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Aerobic Exercise

Stretching and Balance Training

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants will engage in a balance and stretching comparator condition meeting thrice weekly for 12 weeks.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Stretching and Balance Training