Heat, Microvascular Function and Aging

Part of paid clinical trials in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Sponsor
William Hughes
Study ID
NCT06633198
Phase
EARLY_PHASE1
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Aging

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - 80 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Passive Heating — PROCEDURE
    The lower limbs will be immersed in warm (42C) circulating water for 60 minutes.
  • L-NAME — DRUG
    L-NAME will be used during measurement of cutaneous microvascular function to test the dependency upon NO to elicit vasodilation.

Study Details

Vascular dysfunction is a common factor in many chronic debilitating diseases, contributing to morbidity and mortality. With the onset of chronic disease or exposure to stress, the vasculature displays an inability to adequately respond to increased blood flow demands, manifesting in a reduced ability or altered mechanism of vasodilation. Aging is an independent risk factor in the development of cardiovascular disease, and reduces vasodilator capacity, or alters the mechanism by which vasodilation occurs in multiple vascular beds. Chronic exercise/physical activity is one of the most potent ways to enhance vascular function, resulting in favorable outcomes such as reductions in blood pressure, and improved ability to perform activities of daily living. Barriers to exercise or failure of long-term adherence preclude many populations from the cardiovascular benefits of exercise, thus further enhancing cardiovascular risk. Avenues to mimic blood flow patterns observed with exercise may exert beneficial effects without the need for the ability to exercise. Recent evidence has demonstrated that passive heat therapy, or chronic heat exposure (\~ +1°C in core temperature) results in reductions in major adverse cardiovascular events, blood pressure and improved large artery endothelial function, primarily through preservation of large artery function in response to vascular stress. It is unclear whether microvascular function is augmented in response to acute heat exposure, or whether this can protect against vascular insults particularly in older adults. Some preliminary evidence in humans suggest that autophagy, a cell recycling process is involved in the beneficial cardiovascular effects, as short-term heat exposure upregulates markers of autophagy. Previous evidence from our lab indicates that autophagy governs the mechanism by which microvascular vasodilation occurs. The role of autophagy in mediating the beneficial effects of passive heating is unknown.

Key Dates

Start date
May 1, 2025
Status verified
Apr 2025
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2028
Completion
Dec 31, 2028

Study Design

Enrollment
20 participants (estimated)
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE

Arms

  • Experimental: Passive Heating of lower limbs
    The lower limbs will be immersed in warm circulating water for 60 minutes.

Primary Outcome Measure

Change in cutaneous microvascular function [ Time Frame: Baseline, 60 minutes post I/R, and 60 minutes post hot water immersion + I/R injury ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Medical College of WisconsinMilwaukeeWisconsin53226
William E Hughes, Ph.D.
[email protected]
414-955-7519

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By research site
Medical College of Wisconsin· Milwaukee, WI

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