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Cerebrovascular CirculationNCT05864950

Brain Blood Flow Responses During Exercise

A study testing MRI in people with Cerebrovascular Circulation and Magnetic Resonance Imaging, run by University of Wisconsin, Madison at 1 site in United States.

Active, not recruiting

Under way, not looking for participants. Everyone needed has enrolled. The study is still running.

Official record
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Trial summary

Brain blood flow will be measured during exercise using magnetic resonance imaging. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 55 to 69 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
What is being tested?
MRI
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
80 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
6 Mar 2024to 31 May 2027
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 55 to 69 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Healthy men or women between the ages of 55-69 years
  • Demonstrate an exercise history of engaging in aerobic physical activity at least 3 times per week for a minimum of 30 continuous minutes
  • Have experience using cardiovascular exercise equipment (e.g., treadmill, elliptical, upright or recumbent bicycle, stair-stepper)

Who cannot join

  • Outside of specified age range
  • Do not have experience using cardiovascular exercise equipment
  • Do not meet the physical activity criteria
  • Present with a history or evidence of hepatic, renal, hematological disease, cardiovascular disease including uncontrolled hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, stroke/neurovascular disease, and diabetes
  • have a body mass index ≥35 kg/m2
  • are ≥ 71 inches (180 cm) in height
Show all 11Show fewer
  • have any contraindications to MRI
  • currently use or have a history of use of tobacco or illegal substances
  • have current and/or a history of depression or other mood related disorders (those with mild depression and/or anxiety that is controlled with medication and/or therapy will not be excluded)
  • vulnerable populations (e.g., pregnant women, prisoners, individuals lacking capacity to consent)
  • if the desired moderate/vigorous exercise intensity corresponds to > 350 watts on the stepper device

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

United States1 site

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison

    Madison, Wisconsin, 53706

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Influence of Biological Sex and Age on Cerebral Blood Flow and Vessel Function During Exercise: a Pilot Study

Brain blood flow will be measured during exercise using magnetic resonance imaging.

Read the detailed description

Over 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias and this number is expected to reach over 13 million by 2060. Thus, there is an urgent need for interventions to prevent the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias. Regular exercise is currently the most promising strategy as it is repeatedly shown to have neuroprotective benefits. Evidence suggests that the neuroprotective effects of exercise is the result of improved health of blood vessels. Despite the vast amount of evidence on the benefit of exercise on the peripheral vasculature, there is little information regarding brain vascular responses during exercise. This study will investigate the impact of exercise at varying intensities on brain blood flow during exercise, and will also examine the influence of age and sex.

Being tested
MRI
Keywords
Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Exercise, Brain Blood Flow
Medical subject headings
Motor Activity

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • MRIDevice

    Participants will undergo an MRI scan while performing exercise at two intensities (light and moderate/vigorous) using an MRI-compatible stepper device.

Study groups in NCT05864950
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Middle-Aged AdultsExperimentalMiddle-Aged Adults between 55-69 years of age.
Receives: Device: MRI

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Cerebral Hemodynamics

    The change in cross-sectional area of the cerebral arteries during exercise will be measured with MRI.

    Measured: One study visit, up to 120 minutes

  2. Cerebral Blood Flow

    The change in intracranial blood flow during exercise will be measured with MRI.

    Measured: One study visit, up to 120 minutes

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted18 May 2023
  2. Study start6 Mar 2024
  3. Primary completion31 May 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completion31 May 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
80 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT05864950
Sponsor's protocol ID
2022-0512
Other IDs
1RF1NS117746-01, Protocol Version 3/22/2023, A176000, UWF
Status last verified
Jul 2026
First submitted
8 May 2023
Last updated
13 Jul 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
No

Publications

  • Matthews KA, Xu W, Gaglioti AH, Holt JB, Croft JB, Mack D, McGuire LC. Racial and ethnic estimates of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in the United States (2015-2060) in adults aged >/=65 years. Alzheimers Dement. 2019 Jan;15(1):17-24. doi: 10.1016/j.jalz.2018.06.3063. Epub 2018 Sep 19.

    PubMed 30243772

  • Barnes JN, Corkery AT. Exercise Improves Vascular Function, but does this Translate to the Brain? Brain Plast. 2018 Dec 12;4(1):65-79. doi: 10.3233/BPL-180075.

    PubMed 30564547

  • Mitchell GF. Effects of central arterial aging on the structure and function of the peripheral vasculature: implications for end-organ damage. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2008 Nov;105(5):1652-60. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.90549.2008. Epub 2008 Sep 4.

    PubMed 18772322

  • Silvestrini M, Pasqualetti P, Baruffaldi R, Bartolini M, Handouk Y, Matteis M, Moffa F, Provinciali L, Vernieri F. Cerebrovascular reactivity and cognitive decline in patients with Alzheimer disease. Stroke. 2006 Apr;37(4):1010-5. doi: 10.1161/01.STR.0000206439.62025.97. Epub 2006 Feb 23.

    PubMed 16497984

  • Vicenzini E, Ricciardi MC, Altieri M, Puccinelli F, Bonaffini N, Di Piero V, Lenzi GL. Cerebrovascular reactivity in degenerative and vascular dementia: a transcranial Doppler study. Eur Neurol. 2007;58(2):84-9. doi: 10.1159/000103642. Epub 2007 Jun 12.

    PubMed 17565221

  • Rubanyi GM, Romero JC, Vanhoutte PM. Flow-induced release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor. Am J Physiol. 1986 Jun;250(6 Pt 2):H1145-9. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.1986.250.6.H1145.

    PubMed 3487253

  • Harvey PJ, Picton PE, Su WS, Morris BL, Notarius CF, Floras JS. Exercise as an alternative to oral estrogen for amelioration of endothelial dysfunction in postmenopausal women. Am Heart J. 2005 Feb;149(2):291-7. doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2004.08.036.

    PubMed 15846267

  • Black MA, Cable NT, Thijssen DH, Green DJ. Impact of age, sex, and exercise on brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2009 Sep;297(3):H1109-16. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00226.2009. Epub 2009 Jul 24.

    PubMed 19633208

  • Duckles SP, Miller VM. Hormonal modulation of endothelial NO production. Pflugers Arch. 2010 May;459(6):841-51. doi: 10.1007/s00424-010-0797-1. Epub 2010 Mar 7.

    PubMed 20213497

  • Moreau KL, Stauffer BL, Kohrt WM, Seals DR. Essential role of estrogen for improvements in vascular endothelial function with endurance exercise in postmenopausal women. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013 Nov;98(11):4507-15. doi: 10.1210/jc.2013-2183. Epub 2013 Oct 3.

    PubMed 24092827

  • Miller KB, Howery AJ, Rivera-Rivera LA, Johnson SC, Rowley HA, Wieben O, Barnes JN. Age-Related Reductions in Cerebrovascular Reactivity Using 4D Flow MRI. Front Aging Neurosci. 2019 Oct 17;11:281. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2019.00281. eCollection 2019.

    PubMed 31680935

  • Ogoh S, Ainslie PN. Cerebral blood flow during exercise: mechanisms of regulation. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2009 Nov;107(5):1370-80. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00573.2009. Epub 2009 Sep 3.

    PubMed 19729591

  • Soucy KG, Ryoo S, Benjo A, Lim HK, Gupta G, Sohi JS, Elser J, Aon MA, Nyhan D, Shoukas AA, Berkowitz DE. Impaired shear stress-induced nitric oxide production through decreased NOS phosphorylation contributes to age-related vascular stiffness. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2006 Dec;101(6):1751-9. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00138.2006.

    PubMed 17106067

  • Smith KJ, Ainslie PN. Regulation of cerebral blood flow and metabolism during exercise. Exp Physiol. 2017 Nov 1;102(11):1356-1371. doi: 10.1113/EP086249. Epub 2017 Sep 30.

    PubMed 28786150

  • Smith KJ, Wong LE, Eves ND, Koelwyn GJ, Smirl JD, Willie CK, Ainslie PN. Regional cerebral blood flow distribution during exercise: influence of oxygen. Respir Physiol Neurobiol. 2012 Oct 15;184(1):97-105. doi: 10.1016/j.resp.2012.07.014. Epub 2012 Aug 16.

    PubMed 22926137

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing MRI in people with Cerebrovascular Circulation and Magnetic Resonance Imaging, run by University of Wisconsin, Madison at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 11 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: under way, not looking for participants, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Cerebral Hemodynamics (time frame: One study visit, up to 120 minutes). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05864950, which also lists 23 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Jul 2026.

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