Exercise and Endocannabinoids for Brain and Mental Health

NCT06808490 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: IRB-21-04-3502
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 68
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will explore how exercise affects brain chemicals called endocannabinoids, which may improve thinking skills and reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, and low mood in children and teens aged 9 to 17. Participants will take part in a single 30-minute activity session, where they will be randomly assigned to one of three groups:

1. 1.Moderate-intensity exercise (walking or running on a treadmill at 50-70% of their maximum heart rate).
2. 2.Light stretching (gentle movements at less than 40% of their maximum heart rate).
3. 3.Seated meditation (relaxing without movement at less than 30% of their maximum heart rate).

Conditions

Children; Adolescents

Keywords

Exercise; Endocannabinoid; Anxiety; Meditation; Stretching

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (8)

• Endocannabinoid (eCB) Concentrations

  Plasma and saliva samples will be collected immediately before and after exercise or control conditions. Samples will be analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to quantify concentrations of eCBs.

  Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions

• Cognitive performance (Dimensional Change Card Sort Test)

  The NIH Toolbox® iPad application will be administered to measure executive functioning before and after the exercise or control condition: Dimensional Change Card Sort Test (DCCS).

  Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions

• Cognitive performance (Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test)

  The NIH Toolbox® iPad application will be administered to measure executive functioning before and after the exercise or control condition: Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention Test (Flanker).

  Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions

• Cognitive performance (Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test)

  The NIH Toolbox® iPad application will be administered to measure executive functioning before and after the exercise or control condition: Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test (PCT).

  Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions

• Cognitive performance (Picture Sequence Memory Test)

  The NIH Toolbox® iPad application will be administered to measure executive functioning before and after the exercise or control condition: Picture Sequence Memory Test (PSMT).

  Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions

• Anxiety symptoms

  State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for children

  Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions

• Affect

  Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) - Child Version

  Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions

• Mood state

  Mood and Feelings Questionnaire for Children

  Within 30 minutes before and after exercise or control conditions

Study Arms (3)

Moderate Intensity Exercise

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Moderate Intensity Exercise

Light Intensity Stretching

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Behavioral: Light Intensity Stretching

Seated Meditation

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Behavioral: Seated Meditation

Interventions

Moderate Intensity Exercise BEHAVIORAL

Participants randomized to the moderate intensity exercise condition will complete a 30 min session on a motor driven treadmill. Participants will complete a 3-minute warm-up at low speed on a treadmill. Speed and incline will be increased in 3-minute increments until moderate-intensity exercise, defined as the goal of participants staying within a target zone of 50-70% AAMHR while briskly walking and/or jogging depending on current fitness status.

Moderate Intensity Exercise

Light Intensity Stretching BEHAVIORAL

Participants randomized into the light stretching condition will complete a 30-minute video, tailored for 9-17-year-olds. This video leads participants through a series of seated arm, torso, leg, knee and shoulder stretches on a yoga mat. Participants will be monitored throughout the stretching session by a trained research assistant, and HR and perceived exertion will also be measured throughout. The research assistant may make modifications to the poses in real-time to ensure that AAMHR is kept below 40%.

Light Intensity Stretching

Seated Meditation BEHAVIORAL

Participants randomized into the meditation condition will complete a 30-minute video, tailored for 9-17-year-olds. This video leads participants through a seated guided meditation on a yoga mat. This includes a series of breathing, visualization, and body awareness exercises. Participants will be monitored throughout the meditation session by a trained research assistant, and HR and perceived exertion will also be measured throughout, to ensure that AAMHR is kept below 30%.

Seated Meditation

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 9 Years - 17 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
• Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and available for the duration of the study
• years of age
• Adolescent and parent/guardian are English-speaking, as study assessments are in English
• Right-handed

You may not qualify if:

• Head injury
• Sensory (e.g., hearing) impairment
• Physical (e.g., motor, balance) impairment
• Physical disabilities
• Neurological disorders
• Any condition that would contraindicate blood draws

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Wayne State University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Tolan Park Medical Building

Detroit, Michigan, 48201, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Motor Activity; Anxiety Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Hilary Marusak

  Wayne State University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Jeanne Barcelona

  Wayne State University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 7, 2025
• First Posted: February 5, 2025
• Study Start: December 21, 2021
• Primary Completion: March 18, 2024
• Study Completion: March 18, 2024
• Last Updated: February 5, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-01

Locations

US (1)