Physical Exercise Training to Enhance Executive and Social Functions

NCT04896671 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: HSEARS20190311003
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 30
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Background and study aims: Executive functions (EF) and social functions are important for self-regulation, problem solving, and attaining future goals yet they are impaired in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Physical exercise (PE) is found to enhance these central cognitive and social impairments in ASD. While limited research has begun to target these impairments in clinical samples, the presence of sub-clinical traits of ASD (refer to as broad autism phenotype (BAP)) in the general population is more common than the 1% prevalence of ASD. Therefore, it is crucial to study these impairments in the sub-clinical individuals. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of PE in enhancing the EF and social functions in the BAP adolescents. Method: Participants will be recruited from the local community and they should be between the age of 7-20 years without any psychiatric disorders. Expected results: PE is predicted to be effective in reducing the EF and social impairments in these adolescents. Implications: These findings can inform us with the knowledge to design a community-based PE training targeting EF problems in these adolescents with BAP in the local context. Ultimately, this training can be incorporated to the curriculum of the primary and secondary schools targeting BAP and associated impairments in adolescents.

Conditions

Broad Autism Phenotype

Keywords

physical exercise; social function; broad autism phenotype; executive function

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Demographics

  A simple demographic questionnaire will be used to gather participants personal information, including age, gender, current medication or therapy, and medical history of the participant and his/her family members.

  Before intervention (baseline)

• Change from baseline autistic traits at 6 weeks

  The Autism-Spectrum Quotient-Adolescent Version (AQ-Adolescent; Baron-Cohen et al., 2006) and related self-report scales will be used to measure ASD traits. The AQ- adolescent is a self-report questionnaire comprising of 50 items assessing five areas, namely social, attention switching, attention to detail, communication and imagination.

  baseline and 6- week follow up

• Change from baseline executive functions at 6 weeks

  EF and social functions will be measured using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). The CANTAB is a computerized test battery targeting multiple neuropsychological functions. This battery includes Reaction Time, Paired Associates Learning, Spatial Working Memory, One Touch Stockings of Cambridge, Multitasking Test, and Emotion Recognition Task.

  baseline and 6- week follow up

• Change from baseline psychological resilience at 6 weeks

  Participant's psychological resilience will be measured by 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC).

  baseline and 6- week follow up

• Change from baseline schizotypal personality traits at 6 weeks

  Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire will be used to measure schizotypal personality traits.

  baseline and 6- week follow up

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Change from baseline aggression at 6 weeks

  baseline and 6- week follow up

• Change from baseline empathy at 6 weeks

  baseline and 6- week follow up

Study Arms (2)

Intervention group

EXPERIMENTAL

Each participant joins a total of 12 treadmill running sessions, two sessions per week and each session for 30 minutes.

Behavioral: Physical exercise (running on a treadmill)

Waitlist control group

NO INTERVENTION

They receive no treatments.

Interventions

Physical exercise (running on a treadmill) BEHAVIORAL

Participants in the intervention group join a total of 12 treadmill running sessions, two sessions per week and each session for 30 minutes. In each session, every participant will be trained to run for 30 minutes on a treadmill. According to Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) exercise intensity guidelines, the intensity of running is suggested to be moderate and vigorous (alternating between the two) in this study.

Intervention group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 7 Years - 20 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: Based on born gender.
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Age ranges from 7 to 20
• Studying at one of the local schools
• Have never been diagnosed with ASD or any other disorder listed in the Fifth Edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V)
• Are not currently under any psychiatric medications or therapies

You may not qualify if:

• Have been diagnosed with ASD or any other disorder listed in the Fifth Edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V)
• Are currently under any psychiatric medications or therapies

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The University of Hong Kong: lead
• The Hong Kong Polytechnic University: collaborator
• Griffith University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Hong Kong, 00000, Hong Kong

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity; Social Adjustment

Interventions

Exercise

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior; Social Behavior

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Bess Yin-Hung Lam, PhD

  The University of Hong Kong

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: The participants would not know there are two groups. Each participant would assume to participate in physical exercise at some point.
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Research Assistant Professor

Model Details: A total of 30 participants with BAP were randomly assigned to either groups: 1) intervention group (12 treadmill running sessions, two sessions per week and each session 30 minutes) and 2) control group: waitlist control group.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 15, 2020
• First Posted: May 21, 2021
• Study Start: April 1, 2019
• Primary Completion: September 30, 2020
• Study Completion: September 30, 2020
• Last Updated: May 25, 2021

Record last verified: 2021-05

Locations

HK (1)