The Link Between Physical Activity and Brain Health in Healthy Adults

NCT07025070 | Recruiting DMC

• 2 other identifiers: MINAEPSLRE-MMGG-DATOS-20240219S2022/BMD-7236
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this observational study is to investigate the cross-sectional relationship between physical activity and brain health from a multiscale approach (neuropsychology, neuroimaging, peripheral biomarkers and genetics) in former athletes and sedentary individuals. The main question it aims to answer is: Do former athletes have better brain structure than sedentary people? Evaluating the differences in neurodegenerative processes between competitive training and sedentary and inactivity.

Conditions

Alzheimer Disease; Inactivity; Preventive Therapy

Keywords

physical activity

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (12)

• Concentration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in plasma (pg/mL)

  Measured with ELISA kit (e.g., R\&D Systems, Cat. #DY248). Higher BDNF reflects greater neurotrophic support.

  Baseline

• Concentration of total tau protein in plasma (pg/mL)

  Assayed by high-sensitivity ELISA (e.g., Cusabio, Cat. #CSB-E13913h). Greater tau concentration indicates increased axonal injury or neurodegeneration.

  Baseline

• Hippocampal volume measured by high-resolution 3 T T1-weighted MRI (mm³)

  Volume extracted with FreeSurfer; Larger values indicate greater hippocampal integrity

  Baseline

• Resting-state functional connectivity between primary motor cortex and supplementary motor area measured by 3 T fMRI (Fisher-Z)

  Fisher-Z transformed correlation computed with CONN; Higher values indicate stronger connectivity

  Baseline

• Digit Span Forward maximum span length (digits)

  Attention assessed with Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-IV Digit Span Forward subtest; Maximum correctly repeated digit sequence recorded. Higher scores indicate better attention/short-term memory capacity.

  Baseline

• Trail Making Test Part A completion time (seconds)

  Visual attention and processing speed measured by TMT-A; time to connect 25 numbers in ascending order recorded. Shorter times indicate better performance.

  Baseline

• Digit Span Backward maximum span length (digits)

  Working memory measured with WAIS-IV Digit Span Backward; Longest correctly repeated backward sequence recorded. Higher scores indicate better working memory.

  Baseline

• Trail Making Test Part B completion time (seconds)

  Executive function (set-shifting) assessed by TMT-B; Time to alternately connect numbers and letters recorded. Shorter times indicate better executive control.

  Baseline

• Verbal fluency (F-A-S) total words in 60 s (count)

  Phonemic fluency tested with Controlled Oral Word Association Test (letters F, A, S, 60 s each); total correct words across three letters. Higher counts indicate better executive retrieval fluency.

  Baseline

• Stroop Color-Word interference score (seconds)

  Inhibition assessed with Golden Stroop test; The count of completions within 45 seconds is recorded. Lower times reflect better inhibitory control.

  Baseline

• Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) total score (0 - 30 points)

  10-minute screening of global cognition covering memory, attention, language, visuospatial, and executive domains. Values ≥ 26 are considered normal. Higher scores indicate better cognition.

  Baseline

• Number of participants carrying at least one APOE ε4 allele (count of participants)

  Genomic DNA isolated from EDTA whole blood; APOE genotyping by TaqMan SNP assays rs429358 and rs7412. Any ε4-containing genotype (ε2/ε4, ε3/ε4, ε4/ε4) classified as "ε4 carrier". Higher counts = higher ε4 prevalence.

  Baseline

Secondary Outcomes (20)

• Maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) measured by CPET with ramp protocol on treadmill (mL·kg-¹·min-¹)

  Baseline

• Mean daily minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity measured by ActiGraph wGT3X-BT accelerometer over 7 days (min/day)

  Baseline

• Body mass index (BMI) calculated from weight and stadiometer-measured height (kg/m²)

  Baseline

• Peak force of mid-thigh-pull test measured by portable force dynamometer (N)

  Baseline

• Handgrip strength measured by grip dynamometer (kg)

  Baseline

Study Arms (2)

Ex-athletes and continue to exercise regularly

Sedentary individuals

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 40 Years - 75 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Region of Madrid

You may qualify if:

• Group A: ex-athletes and continue to perform regular physical exercise (minimum 3 days/week of moderate-vigorous intensity).
• Group B: sedentary individuals, (i.e., perform \<150 min of moderate intensity exercise per week or IPAQ score\<600 MET min/week).
• In both groups (A and B) the conditions of physical exercise or sedentary lifestyle must have been maintained for at least 6 months prior to the evaluations.
• Not having a history of neurological or psychiatric disorder or suffering from a serious medical condition

You may not qualify if:

• Medical conditions that have a high risk of associated cognitive symptoms.
• Severe head injury with loss of consciousness within the previous 5 years.
• Alcoholism (\>3 alcoholic drinks per day).
• Chronic use of anxiolytics, neuroleptics, narcotics, anticonvulsants, or sedative hypnotics.
• Hearing or visual impairment that would preclude testing
• History of neurological disease with clinically relevant impact on cognition (e.g. cerebrovascular disease).
• Incidental structural brain findings with impact on cognitive impairment or survival (e.g., malignant brain tumor).
• Presence of severe systemic disease (e.g., cancer under treatment).
• Consumption of anabolic substances.
• Problems understanding spoken or written Spanish.
• Those with pacemakers or metallic implants that may interfere with the MRI.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Technical University of Madrid: lead

Study Sites (1)

Faculty of Physical Activity and Sports Sciences (INEF)

Madrid, Madrid, 28040, Spain

RECRUITING

Related Links

• Related Info

Biospecimen

Retention: SAMPLES WITH DNA

Detection of mutated genes associated with early-onset Alzheimer's disease

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Alzheimer Disease; Sedentary Behavior; Motor Activity

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Dementia; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Tauopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders; Behavior

Central Study Contacts

Songxin Tang

CONTACT

+34 663002621; songxin.tang@alumnos.upm.es

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 27, 2025
• First Posted: June 17, 2025
• Study Start: November 25, 2024
• Primary Completion: January 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2026
• Last Updated: June 17, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Locations

ES (1)