Active AMD Study to Improve Function in Veterans

Description

Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss among Veterans aged 50 years and older. AMD also adversely affects mortality, physical and cognitive functioning, and activities of daily living. These debilitations negatively impact quality of life for US Veterans. Unfortunately, there are no cures and few treatments. With the increase in the aging Veteran population and the increasing prevalence of AMD, it is imperative to identify and implement strategies to limit the functional burden of AMD. To address this growing challenge, the investigators propose to test the impact of a proven exercise intervention, stationary bicycling (spinning), on visual and non-visual negative health outcomes in AMD. The work in several retinal degeneration mouse models shows that aerobic exercise significantly preserves retinal morphology and function and visual acuity. Even more exciting, the investigators' preliminary work with older Veterans with and without AMD suggests that spin cycling modestly but significantly benefits visual acuity in aged Veterans. Based on this work, the investigators propose to implement a 6-month synchronous, online group spin cycling program for Veterans with AMD, evaluating effects on physical, cognitive, and visual outcomes.

Conditions

Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss among Veterans aged 50 years and older. AMD also adversely affects mortality, physical and cognitive functioning, and activities of daily living. These debilitations negatively impact quality of life for US Veterans. Unfortunately, there are no cures and few treatments. With the increase in the aging Veteran population and the increasing prevalence of AMD, it is imperative to identify and implement strategies to limit the functional burden of AMD. To address this growing challenge, the investigators propose to test the impact of a proven exercise intervention, stationary bicycling (spinning), on visual and non-visual negative health outcomes in AMD. The work in several retinal degeneration mouse models shows that aerobic exercise significantly preserves retinal morphology and function and visual acuity. Even more exciting, the investigators' preliminary work with older Veterans with and without AMD suggests that spin cycling modestly but significantly benefits visual acuity in aged Veterans. Based on this work, the investigators propose to implement a 6-month synchronous, online group spin cycling program for Veterans with AMD, evaluating effects on physical, cognitive, and visual outcomes.

The Active AMD Study to Improve Function in Veterans With Age Related Macular Degeneration

Active AMD Study to Improve Function in Veterans

Condition
Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Decatur

Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA, Decatur, Georgia, United States, 30033-4004

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

  • * The investigators will recruit Veterans with a diagnosis of intermediate stage AMD in at least one eye, aged 65-89, willing and able to cooperate with assessments and interventions.
  • * Eligible participants will be quantified \> 26 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) to meet the criteria for cognitively intact.
  • * Participants will be free from diseases affecting cognition or ability to engage in aerobic exercise (including but not limited to chronic heart, liver, or kidney disease) and from diseases/injuries directly affecting brain functions (including but not limited to significant closed head injury, open intracranial wounds, stroke, epilepsy, degenerative diseases of the nervous system).
  • * Eligible participants will be required to have stable internet access in their home.
  • * All subjects will speak English as a primary language and will have graduated high school so that behavioral/cognitive measures reflect effects of age, AMD, and/or aerobic exercise and not the effects of familiarity with English or lack of education.
  • * Other, non-AMD, visual impairments. Potential participants with major psychiatric disorder (including but not limited to psychosis, major depression, bipolar disorder) by history will be excluded as well as individuals with current alcohol or substance use disorder.
  • * Additionally, individuals with cardiovascular disease and or history of myocardial infarction will not be included.

Ages Eligible for Study

65 Years to 89 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

VA Office of Research and Development,

Joe R. Nocera, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA

Study Record Dates

2028-08-31