Exercise in Perimenopause to Improve Cognitive Health

NCT07272174 | Recruiting DMC

• 1 other identifier: H25-01552
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 50
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Perimenopause is now considered a possible risk factor for dementia and may contribute to the fact that 2/3 of those living with Alzheimer's disease are females. Indeed, research studies show that middle-aged females demonstrate significant declines in their thinking abilities and detrimental changes in their brains as they go through perimenopause. Thus, perimenopausal females need strategies to bolster their brain health. The World Health Organization strongly recommends physical activity interventions to reduce the risk of decline in thinking abilities. However, whether exercise can improve thinking abilities and brain health in perimenopausal females has not been examined. Our research aims to address this important knowledge gap in female brain health. We will study the effects of a 6-month resistance exercise training (e.g., lifting free weights, exercise with weight machine) program on thinking abilities in 50 physically inactive perimenopausal females, aged 40 to 55 years, who are experiencing difficulties with their thinking abilities. In addition to measuring thinking abilities, we will determine if exercise benefits muscle health, heart health, sleep quality, psychological well-being, menopausal symptoms, and quality of life. We will also explore how resistance exercise training improves thinking abilities as such information can lead to new discoveries and therapies for brain health in females.

Conditions

Perimenopause; Subjective Cognitive Complaints

Keywords

progressive resistance training, perimenopause

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT)

  The RAVLT is a valid, reliable, and widely-used instrument of verbal episodic memory and learning, with normative values.

  Baseline, 13 weeks, 26 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (33)

• NIH TB Cognitive Battery - Flanker Test

  Baseline, 13 weeks, 26 weeks

• NIH TB Cognitive Battery - Dimensional Change Card Sort Test

  Baseline, 13 weeks, 26 weeks

• NIH TB Cognitive Battery - Picture Sequence Memory Test

  Baseline, 13 weeks, 26 weeks

• NIH TB Cognitive Battery - List Sorting Test

  Baseline, 13 weeks, 26 weeks

• NIH TB Cognitive Battery - Pattern Comparison Processing Speed Test

  Baseline, 13 weeks, 26 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Progressive Resistance Training (PRT)

EXPERIMENTAL

Each PRT session will be 1-hr in duration and consists of a warm-up (10 mins), PRT (45 mins), and cool-down (5 mins). 2x/week and group-based.

Behavioral: Progressive Resistance Training

Balance, Flexibility, and Tone Exercises (BAT)

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Each BAT session will be 1-hr in duration. 2x/week and group-based.

Behavioral: Balance, Flexibility, and Tone Exercises

Interventions

Progressive Resistance Training BEHAVIORAL

The sessions will occur in the Exercise Prescription Suite of the Centre for Aging SMART at VCH; this suite is a fully-equipped gym that includes treadmills, bikes, pneumatic resistance training equipment, and free weights. The training stimulus will initially be at 3 sets of 10-15 repetitions with proper form. At week 4, training intensity will progress from 60-82% of predicted 1 repetition maximum (RM) using the 8RM method. Every 4 weeks the 8RM test will be repeated.

Also known as: PRT

Progressive Resistance Training (PRT)

Balance, Flexibility, and Tone Exercises BEHAVIORAL

Each BAT session will be 1-hr in duration and consist of Pilates mat exercises, Yoga-based poses and breathing, Kegel exercises, stretches, and relaxation techniques (e.g., visualization).

Also known as: BAT

Balance, Flexibility, and Tone Exercises (BAT)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 40 Years - 55 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Are biological females, as assigned at birth
• Are aged between 40 and 55 years
• Had at least 1 menstrual period in the last 10 months
• Are perimenopausal based on STRAW +10 Staging System, or answer "yes" to MQ6 questions of changes in periods, having hot flashes, or vaginal dryness, pain, or sexual concerns
• Have an intact uterus
• Have a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score \>26/30, indicating normal cognition
• Have subjective cognitive complaints defined as responding "yes" to "Do you feel like your memory or thinking is becoming worse?"
• Completed high school education
• Read and speak English with acceptable visual and auditory acuity
• Are able to safely engage in moderate-intensity PRT as indicated by the PAR-Q+; and
• Are able to provide informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Are engaged in regular PRT (i.e., 2x/week) in the prior three months
• Are diagnosed with cognitive impairment or dementia of any type
• Are at high risk for cardiac complications during exercise
• Have clinically important peripheral neuropathy or severe musculoskeletal or joint disease that impairs mobility
• Are taking medications that negatively affect cognitive function, such as anticholinergics, major tranquilizers, and anticonvulsants
• Have a BMI \<15 or anorexia nervosa; g) had surgical menopause
• Had endometrial ablation that resulted in the loss of menstruation
• Have polycystic ovarian syndrome
• Currently undergoing chemo
• Are using estrogen-containing contraception in the last 12 months
• Had premature ovarian failure; or
• Are already enrolled in a drug or exercise trial

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of British Columbia: lead
• Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of British Columbia

Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 1M9, Canada

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Pliability

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mechanical Phenomena; Physical Phenomena

Study Officials

• Teresa Liu-Ambrose, PhD

  University of British Columbia

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Teresa Liu-Ambrose, PhD

CONTACT

6046178047; teresa.ambrose@ubc.ca

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 19, 2025
• First Posted: December 9, 2025
• Study Start: March 30, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): January 30, 2027
• Last Updated: April 16, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CA (1)