Trial results for a study investigating acute exercise in aging and Alzheimer's Disease were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2025-07-23, involving 60 participants.
Background
Alzheimer's Disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline. Understanding the physiological responses to non-pharmacological interventions, such as exercise, is crucial for identifying potential strategies to support brain health in both healthy aging and in the context of neurodegenerative conditions. This study aimed to characterize the acute exercise response, specifically as it relates to brain glucose metabolism, lactate metabolism, and their relationships with cognition, while also examining the effect of exercise intensity.
Trial design
This completed study, designated as Phase NA, enrolled 60 participants to investigate conditions including Healthy Aging and Alzheimer Disease. The trial focused on characterizing the acute exercise response, comparing outcomes between moderate intensity aerobic exercise and high intensity aerobic exercise.
Key results
The trial reported several key measurements related to brain metabolism and biomarkers following acute exercise:
- Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Metabolism (Standard Uptake Value Ratio):
- For the Moderate Intensity Aerobic Exercise group, the mean SUVR was -0.0514 (Standard Deviation 0.03).
- For the High Intensity Aerobic Exercise group, the mean SUVR was -0.0667 (Standard Deviation 0.03).
- Lactate Area Under the Curve:
- For the Moderate Intensity Aerobic Exercise group, the mean AUC change was 40.3 (Standard Deviation 27.5) mmol/L*min.
- For the High Intensity Aerobic Exercise group, the mean AUC change was 97.0 (Standard Deviation 50.8) mmol/L*min.
- Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Change:
- For the Moderate Intensity Aerobic Exercise group, the mean change was 610.2 (Standard Deviation 1071.9) pg/mL.
- For the High Intensity Aerobic Exercise group, the mean change was 353.3 (Standard Deviation 239.8) pg/mL.
What this means
The posted results indicate that acute aerobic exercise, at both moderate and high intensities, is associated with measurable changes in brain glucose metabolism, lactate levels, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Specifically, both exercise intensities were linked to a decrease in FDG PET metabolism, an increase in lactate, and an increase in BDNF. These findings contribute to characterizing the physiological impact of acute exercise on the brain in individuals with healthy aging and Alzheimer's Disease, providing a basis for further research into exercise as a potential modulator of brain health.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT04299308, titled "Acute Exercise and the Cerebral Metabolic Response in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease", were posted on 2025-07-23 on clinicaltrials.gov.