Exercise and Brain Health

Description

The risk of stroke and vascular dementia is high in individuals who have had a prior stroke or TIA, and in those who have vascular disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, diabetes or pre-diabetes. These vascular risk factors can improve with exercise. This study will examine the impact of a 6 month, low intensity group exercise class on fitness, walking, balance, and brain health. This study will also collect fitness, walking, balance, and brain health outcome measures at baseline and post all other MERCE exercise and robotics interventions.

Conditions

Stroke, Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

The risk of stroke and vascular dementia is high in individuals who have had a prior stroke or TIA, and in those who have vascular disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, diabetes or pre-diabetes. These vascular risk factors can improve with exercise. This study will examine the impact of a 6 month, low intensity group exercise class on fitness, walking, balance, and brain health. This study will also collect fitness, walking, balance, and brain health outcome measures at baseline and post all other MERCE exercise and robotics interventions.

Exercise and Brain Health

Exercise and Brain Health

Condition
Stroke
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Baltimore

Baltimore VA Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21201

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Adequate language and neurocognitive function to participate in testing and training and to give adequate informed consent
  • * Able to rise from a chair unaided
  • * Completion of all regular post-stroke physical therapy (if applicable)
  • * Able to walk 30 feet without human assistance
  • * Clinical history of
  • * unstable angina
  • * recent (\< 3 months) myocardial infarction or congestive heart failure (NYHA category II)
  • * hemodynamically significant valvular dysfunction
  • * peripheral arterial obstructive disorder with claudication
  • * major orthopedic, chronic pain, or non-stroke neuromuscular disorders restricting exercise
  • * pulmonary or renal failure
  • * poorly controlled hypertension (\>190/110), measured on at least two separate occasions
  • * recent hospitalization for severe disease or surgery
  • * severe or global receptive aphasia which confounds reliable testing and training
  • * Other medical condition precluding patient participation in this study as per medical judgment of study team
  • * Untreated major depression
  • * Pregnancy
  • * Alcohol consumption \> 3 oz. liquor, or 3 x 4 oz glasses of wine, or 3 x 12 oz. beers per day, by self-report
  • * Dementia and other major cognitive deficits (based upon clinical evaluation)

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to 95 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

Baltimore VA Medical Center,

Emily Byrne, BS, STUDY_DIRECTOR, Baltimore VA Medical Center

Study Record Dates

2025-01