Effects of a 12-week aerobic exercise programme on HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder in Nigeria: A protocol for randomized controlled trial (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martins Nweke ◽  
Nombeko Mshunqane ◽  
Nalini Govender ◽  
Aderonke Akineplu ◽  
Adesola Oginniyi

BACKGROUND The introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has led to a drastic fall in the incidence of HIV-associated dementia. However, less severe but limiting forms of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorder (HAND) continues to be prevalent even with the use of ART. Aerobic exercise, a behavioural intervention may be a beneficial and effective complement to ART in the management of HAND. In HIV-negative individuals, aerobic exercise mitigates pathogenic changes similar to those of HAND. OBJECTIVE This protocol describes a randomized clinical trial designed to determine the effect of a 12-week aerobic exercise programme on HAND in Southeastern Nigeria. METHODS A minimum of seventy-six patients diagnosed with HAND will be randomized into aerobic exercise and control groups. Aerobic exercise will be carried out on a stationary bicycle ergometer at moderate intensity, three times a week for 12-weeks. Primary outcomes are neurocognitive performance, CD4-count and viral load. Evaluation of post-exercise neurocognitive performance will be undertaken using reliable neuropsychological tests relevant to PLWHIV, in line with Frascati criteria. Secondary outcomes such as quality of life, and activity limitation and social participation will be assessed using the WHOQOL-Bref, and the Oxford Participation and Activities questionnaire respectively. Data will be subjected to exploratory statistics to test for normality and homogeneity. The effect of the exercise programme on HAND will be analysed using two-way repeated-measures ANOVA, with Bonferroni’s correction. Within-group comparison will be undertaken using paired sampled t-test. RESULTS Enrollment began on 18th January 2021. Recruitment has been completed. The trial is ongoing and will be completed in July 2021 CONCLUSIONS The study will provide valuable information about the effect of aerobic exercise on HAND thus verifying the suitability of aerobic exercise as a complementary therapy for mitigating neurocognitive disorder among PLWHIV. Data from the study will be useful in pursuit of debate on the necessity of a sponsored rehabilitation arm in ART clinics. CLINICALTRIAL The study was registered with the PAN African Trial Registry (PACTR) on the 1stth September 2020. The registration ID is PACTR202009483415745.

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Fang Yu ◽  
David M. Vock ◽  
Lin Zhang ◽  
Dereck Salisbury ◽  
Nathaniel W. Nelson ◽  
...  

Background: Aerobic exercise has shown inconsistent cognitive effects in older adults with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia. Objective: To examine the immediate and longitudinal effects of 6-month cycling on cognition in older adults with AD dementia. Methods: This randomized controlled trial randomized 96 participants (64 to cycling and 32 to stretching for six months) and followed them for another six months. The intervention was supervised, moderate-intensity cycling for 20–50 minutes, 3 times a week for six months. The control was light-intensity stretching. Cognition was assessed at baseline, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months using the AD Assessment Scale-Cognition (ADAS-Cog). Discrete cognitive domains were measured using the AD Uniform Data Set battery. Results: The participants were 77.4±6.8 years old with 15.6±2.9 years of education, and 55%were male. The 6-month change in ADAS-Cog was 1.0±4.6 (cycling) and 0.1±4.1 (stretching), which were both significantly less than the natural 3.2±6.3-point increase observed naturally with disease progression. The 12-month change was 2.4±5.2 (cycling) and 2.2±5.7 (control). ADAS-Cog did not differ between groups at 6 (p = 0.386) and 12 months (p = 0.856). There were no differences in the 12-month rate of change in ADAS-Cog (0.192 versus 0.197, p = 0.967), memory (–0.012 versus –0.019, p = 0.373), executive function (–0.020 versus –0.012, p = 0.383), attention (–0.035 versus –0.033, p = 0.908), or language (–0.028 versus –0.026, p = 0.756). Conclusion: Exercise may reduce decline in global cognition in older adults with mild-to-moderate AD dementia. Aerobic exercise did not show superior cognitive effects to stretching in our pilot trial, possibly due to the lack of power.


2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (12) ◽  
pp. 1635-1644 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philipp Zimmer ◽  
Wilhelm Bloch ◽  
Alexander Schenk ◽  
Max Oberste ◽  
Stefan Riedel ◽  
...  

Background: Aerobic exercise can improve cognitive performance in healthy elderly people. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of a 3-week high-intensity aerobic exercise programme (high-intensity training group (HIT)) on cognitive performance in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) compared with a standard exercise programme (control training (CT)). Methods: A total of 60 persons with MS (Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS): 1.0–6.5) were randomized to a HIT group (3×/week for 20 minutes, including five 3-minute exercise intervals at 80% of peak oxygen uptake (VO2-peak)) or a CT group (continuously 5×/week for 30 minutes/session at 65% of VO2-peak). Cognitive performance was assessed using the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for MS at entry ( t0) and discharge ( t1). Furthermore, VO2-peak, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, serotonin and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 and -9 were measured. Results: Compared to CT, HIT significantly improved verbal memory. Significant improvements over time in executive functions were found in both groups. Secondary outcomes indicated significant improvements in VO2-peak and a significant reduction in MMP-2 in the HIT group only. Conclusion: HIT represents a promising strategy to improve verbal memory and physical fitness in persons with MS. Further research is needed to determine the impact of exercise on biomarkers in MS.


2010 ◽  
Vol 90 (5) ◽  
pp. 714-725 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neena K. Sharma ◽  
Janelle M. Ryals ◽  
Byron J. Gajewski ◽  
Douglas E. Wright

Background Present literature and clinical practice provide strong support for the use of aerobic exercise in reducing pain and improving function for individuals with chronic musculoskeletal pain syndromes. However, the molecular basis for the positive actions of exercise remains poorly understood. Recent studies suggest that neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) may act in an analgesic fashion in various pain states. Objective The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on pain-like behavior and NT-3 in an animal model of widespread pain. Design This was a repeated-measures, observational cross-sectional study. Methods Forty female mice were injected with either normal (pH 7.2; n=20) or acidic (pH 4.0; n=20) saline in the gastrocnemius muscle to induce widespread hyperalgesia and exercised for 3 weeks. Cutaneous (von Frey monofilament) and muscular (forceps compression) mechanical sensitivity were assessed. Neurotrophin-3 was quantified in 2 hind-limb skeletal muscles for both messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels after exercise training. Data were analyzed with 2-factor analysis of variance for repeated measures (group × time). Results Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise reduced cutaneous and deep tissue hyperalgesia induced by acidic saline and stimulated NT-3 synthesis in skeletal muscle. The increase in NT-3 was more pronounced at the protein level compared with mRNA expression. In addition, the increase in NT-3 protein was significant in the gastrocnemius muscle but not in the soleus muscle, suggesting that exercise can preferentially target NT-3 synthesis in specific muscle types. Limitations Results are limited to animal models and cannot be generalized to chronic pain syndromes in humans. Conclusions This is the first study demonstrating the effect of exercise on deep tissue mechanical hyperalgesia in a rodent model of pain and providing a possible molecular basis for exercise training in reducing muscular pain.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua E. McGee ◽  
Savanna G. Barefoot ◽  
Nicole R. Gniewek ◽  
Patricia M. Brophy ◽  
Angela Clark ◽  
...  

Abstract Background African Americans have a disproportionate prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes compared to Caucasians. Recent evidence indicates low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) level, an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes, is also more prevalent in African Americans than Caucasians. Numerous studies in Caucasian populations suggest vigorous exercise intensity may promote greater improvements in CRF and other type 2 diabetes risk factors (e.g. reduction of glucose/insulin levels, pulse wave velocity, body fat, etc.) than moderate intensity. However, current evidence comparing health benefits of different aerobic exercise intensities on type 2 diabetes risk factors in African Americans is negligible. This is clinically important as African Americans have a greater risk for type 2 diabetes and are less likely to meet public health recommendations for physical activity than Caucasians. The purpose of the High-Intensity exercise to Promote Accelerated improvements in CardiorEspiratory fitness (HI-PACE) study is to evaluate whether high-intensity aerobic exercise elicits greater improvements in CRF, insulin action, and arterial stiffness than moderate-intensity exercise in African Americans. Methods/Design­ A randomized controlled trial will be performed on overweight and obese (body mass index: 25-45 kg/m2) African Americans (35-65 years) (n=60). Participants will be randomized to moderate-intensity (MOD-INT) or high-intensity (HIGH-INT) aerobic exercise training, or a non-exercise control group (CON) for 24 weeks. Supervised exercise will be performed at a heart rate associated with 45-55% and 70-80% of VO2 max in the MOD-INT and the HIGH-INT groups, respectively, for an exercise dose of 600 MET-minutes/week (consistent with public health recommendations). The primary outcome is change in CRF. Secondary outcomes include change in insulin sensitivity (measured via an intravenous glucose tolerance test), skeletal muscle mitochondrial oxidative capacity (via near infrared spectroscopy), skeletal muscle measurements (i.e. citrate synthase, COX IV, GLUT-4, CPT-1, PGC1-α), arterial stiffness (via carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity), body fat, C-reactive protein, and psychological outcomes (quality of life/exercise enjoyment). Discussion The anticipated results of the HI-PACE study will provide vital information on the health effects of high-intensity exercise in African Americans. This study will advance health disparity research and has the potential to influence future public health guidelines for physical activity. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02892331. Registered on 8 September 2016, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02892331


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