COMPLETED

Effects of Acute Pain on Motor Learning in Young vs Older Adults

Conditions

Aging Pain, Acute Cognitive Decline Motor Activity Acute pain Adults Cognition Elderly Learning Memory Pain Cognitive ability Motor learning Young adults Older Adults Gait Locomotion Walking Motor Consolidation

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Study Overview

This clinical trial focuses on testing the efficacy of different digital interventions to promote re-engagement in cancer-related long-term follow-up care for adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors of childhood cancer.

Description

To date, the effects of pain on motor learning have not been thoroughly investigated, particularly in older adults. Broadly, the purpose of this research is to investigate the impact of acute pain on locomotor learning and its retention in older adults. The investigators hypothesize that acute pain impairs retention of locomotor learning in young and older adults and that in older adults, these deficits are worsened and are related to the degree of normal age-related cognitive decline.

Official Title

Effects of Acute Pain on Motor Learning in Young vs Older Adults

Quick Facts

Study Start:2024-08-20

Study Completion:2025-06-05

Study Type:Not specified

Phase:Not Applicable

Enrollment:Not specified

Status:COMPLETED

Study ID

NCT05471557

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.

Ages Eligible for Study:18 Years to 85 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study:ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:Yes

Standard Ages:ADULT, OLDER_ADULT

Inclusion Criteria	Exclusion Criteria
1. 18-35 (YA group only) or 55-85 (OA group only) years old 2. Sex-matched to a participant in the OA group (YA group only) 3. Self-identifying as generally medically healthy 4. Able to read, write and speak English 5. Able to provide informed consent and attend all testing sessions 6. Willing to undergo the experimental pain or non-painful electrical stimulation, if selected	1. Resting HR \< 50 or \> 100 bpm 2. Resting BP \< 90/60 or \> 140/95 mmHg (YA group only) or \> 165/95 (OA group only) 3. Any history or current mental health condition, learning/developmental disability or cognitive impairment, including severe untreated ADD/ADHD, severe untreated anxiety, severe untreated depression, autism spectrum disorder, insomnia, mild cognitive impairment, etc. 4. Score on the MoCA \<23 5. Score on the GAD-7 ≥ 10 6. Score on the PHQ-2 ≥ 2 and score on the PHQ-9 ≥ 10 7. Any current (within last 3 month) or chronic medical conditions, including any musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, endocrine, pulmonary, metabolic, psychiatric or neurological diagnosis that (for OA group only) affects activities of daily living or would confound testing or place the subject at risk by participating, such as a significant cardiovascular condition or event (e.g., heart attack \< 3 months ago, uncontrolled atrial fibrillation, uncontrolled angina, or congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, peripheral vascular disease) 8. Any impaired sensation or weakness in either lower extremity or in the area targeted for the stimulus 9. History of serious concussion or head injury, defined as a loss of consciousness for \> 5 minutes and/or requiring medical treatment, or \> 2 concussions over the lifespan 10. Any history of acute or chronic problems with balance, any dizziness, or \> 1 fall in the last 12 months 11. Taking 4 or more medications (YA group only) 12. Currently or regularly using any analgesic medications, over-the-counter remedies, or any other treatment for the purposes of pain relief (i.e., baby aspirin for heart health permitted, etc.) 13. Any current or chronic pain condition during the last year, located anywhere in the body with a (OA group only) pain intensity of \> 2/10 14. Allergy to capsaicin or hot peppers 15. Any skin lesion, breakage or irritation in the area targeted for the painful stimulus 16. Skin sensitivity to soaps/creams/perfumes or to heat 17. Poor circulation in the area targeted for the painful stimulus 18. Prior participation in a locomotor learning study in this lab within the last 2 years or prior participation in a study in this lab that included the cognitive testing battery within the last 2 years.

Inclusion Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

1. 18-35 (YA group only) or 55-85 (OA group only) years old
2. Sex-matched to a participant in the OA group (YA group only)
3. Self-identifying as generally medically healthy
4. Able to read, write and speak English
5. Able to provide informed consent and attend all testing sessions
6. Willing to undergo the experimental pain or non-painful electrical stimulation, if selected

1. Resting HR \< 50 or \> 100 bpm
2. Resting BP \< 90/60 or \> 140/95 mmHg (YA group only) or \> 165/95 (OA group only)
3. Any history or current mental health condition, learning/developmental disability or cognitive impairment, including severe untreated ADD/ADHD, severe untreated anxiety, severe untreated depression, autism spectrum disorder, insomnia, mild cognitive impairment, etc.
4. Score on the MoCA \<23
5. Score on the GAD-7 ≥ 10
6. Score on the PHQ-2 ≥ 2 and score on the PHQ-9 ≥ 10
7. Any current (within last 3 month) or chronic medical conditions, including any musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, endocrine, pulmonary, metabolic, psychiatric or neurological diagnosis that (for OA group only) affects activities of daily living or would confound testing or place the subject at risk by participating, such as a significant cardiovascular condition or event (e.g., heart attack \< 3 months ago, uncontrolled atrial fibrillation, uncontrolled angina, or congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder, peripheral vascular disease)
8. Any impaired sensation or weakness in either lower extremity or in the area targeted for the stimulus
9. History of serious concussion or head injury, defined as a loss of consciousness for \> 5 minutes and/or requiring medical treatment, or \> 2 concussions over the lifespan
10. Any history of acute or chronic problems with balance, any dizziness, or \> 1 fall in the last 12 months
11. Taking 4 or more medications (YA group only)
12. Currently or regularly using any analgesic medications, over-the-counter remedies, or any other treatment for the purposes of pain relief (i.e., baby aspirin for heart health permitted, etc.)
13. Any current or chronic pain condition during the last year, located anywhere in the body with a (OA group only) pain intensity of \> 2/10
14. Allergy to capsaicin or hot peppers
15. Any skin lesion, breakage or irritation in the area targeted for the painful stimulus
16. Skin sensitivity to soaps/creams/perfumes or to heat
17. Poor circulation in the area targeted for the painful stimulus
18. Prior participation in a locomotor learning study in this lab within the last 2 years or prior participation in a study in this lab that included the cognitive testing battery within the last 2 years.

Contacts and Locations

Principal Investigator

Susanne M Morton, PhD

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Delaware

Study Locations (Sites)

University of Delaware

Newark, Delaware, 19713

United States

Collaborators and Investigators

Sponsor: University of Delaware

Susanne M Morton, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, University of Delaware

Study Record Dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Registration Dates

Study Start Date2024-08-20

Study Completion Date2025-06-05

Study Record Updates

Study Start Date2024-08-20

Study Completion Date2025-06-05

Terms related to this study

Keywords Provided by Researchers

Acute pain
Adults
Cognition
Elderly
Learning
Memory
Pain
Cognitive ability
Motor learning
Young adults
Older Adults
Gait
Locomotion
Walking
Motor Consolidation

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Aging
Pain, Acute
Cognitive Decline
Motor Activity