The objective of this study is to evaluate the acute effects of sitting on cognitive measures in healthy elderly, and if these effects can be prevented by breaking-up sitting and/or a high mental activity state. In addition, this research explores…
ID
Source
Brief title
Condition
- Dementia and amnestic conditions
- Lifestyle issues
Synonym
Research involving
Sponsors and support
Intervention
Outcome measures
Primary outcome
The main parameter of this study is the difference between the conditions
between the change in cognitive measures, as measured by the TAP test before
and after the three hour periods. Alertness, working memory, and flexibility
will be measured.
Secondary outcome
Cerebrovascular autoregulation will serve as an intermediate outcome. Changes
in cerebral autoregulation and cerebrovascular reactivity will be measured
before and after each of the 3 hour conditions as well.
Background summary
There is a large increase in the prevalence of cognitive impairment and
dementia cases. While the etiology of dementia is still unclear and no cure has
been found, epidemiological studies estimate that 30% of the population risk
for dementia is related to potentially preventable vascular risk factors,
including physical inactivity. Studies reveal that increased sedentary
behaviour is associated with the presence and/or progression of cardiometabolic
risk factors, independent of physical activity. Related to sitting, it is
therefore hypothesised that an absence of challenging the system causes a
reduced baroreflex sensitivity which was previously seen in bed rest studies.
Due to this worsened regulation, lower cerebral blood flow is expected to be
found in elderly seated uninterruptedly for a longer time. This lower cerebral
blood flow potentially affects the cognitive performance.
Study objective
The objective of this study is to evaluate the acute effects of sitting on
cognitive measures in healthy elderly, and if these effects can be prevented by
breaking-up sitting and/or a high mental activity state. In addition, this
research explores changes in cerebral blood flow, autoregulation and cerebral
reactivity after sitting and breaking-up sitting in different mental activity
states in healthy elderly, and their potential mediating effects on cognition.
Study design
This study uses a cross-over design.
Intervention
Participants will have four measurement days, in which they will be asked to
sit for three hours uninterruptedly during two of these days. The other two
days they will be asked to stay seated for three hours, but have a short light
intensity physical activity break every 30 minutes. This will be cross-over
with a high mental activity (making puzzles) and low mental activity (watching
television) during the 3 hour period.
Study burden and risks
The burden for participants is that they have to report 5 times over a period
of 4 weeks at our laboratory, whilst these visits will take a total of 21
hours. The physical burden of the measurements is low as our cognitive and
cerebrovascular measurements are non-invasive and well tolerated.
Reinier Postlaan 4
Nijmegen 6525 GC
NL
Reinier Postlaan 4
Nijmegen 6525 GC
NL
Listed location countries
Age
Inclusion criteria
- 70-90 years of age
- Mentally able to give informed consent
- Adequate visual and auditory acuity to complete neuropsychological testing
- Scores on the MoCA of *24
- Able to sit for three hours uninterruptedly (no urinary urgency problems)
Exclusion criteria
- Persons who are not physically able to perform light-intensity physical activity such as standing and walking.
- Diagnosis of AD, any other type of dementia or MCI
- History of familial early-onset dementia; first or second degree family member diagnosed with dementia aged *55 years of age
- Enrolment in any investigational drug study
- Diagnosis of or drug use for any major psychiatric disorder (a clinical diagnosis of major depressive disorder, bipolar or schizophrenia) e.g. Anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, lithium
- Drug use that affects alertness from the evening before the measurement, till the end of the measurement day, e.g. Psycho pharmacy e.g. benzodiazepines (oxazepam, temazepam, zolpidem), over-the-counter medication (melatonine, valeriane)
- Past history or MRI evidence of brain damage, including significant trauma, stroke, hydrocephalus, mental retardation, or serious neurological disorder
- Vigorously active for more than 3 hours per week (based on SQUASH questionnaire)
Design
Recruitment
Followed up by the following (possibly more current) registration
No registrations found.
Other (possibly less up-to-date) registrations in this register
No registrations found.
In other registers
| Register | ID |
|---|---|
| CCMO | NL64309.091.17 |