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Sedentary BehaviorsFISCFNCT06700187

Frequency of Interrupting Sitting and Cognitive Function

A study testing Interrupting sitting with walking breaks in people with Sedentary Behaviors and Breaking Prolonged Sitting With Physical Activity, run by Maastricht University Medical Center at 1 site in Netherlands.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

Rationale: Sedentary behavior (SB) has been associated with impaired cognitive function in elderly, and negatively impacts glucose metabolism. Interrupting sitting with physical activity (PA) bouts may exert beneficial effects on cognitive function via an improved glucose metabolism. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 to 35 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
What is being tested?
Interrupting sitting with walking breaks
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
33 participants
Where
1 siteNetherlands
Study dates
3 Oct 2024to 27 Mar 2026
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 18 to 35 years
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Adult

Who may be able to join

  • Men and women aged 18-35 years;
  • BMI between 18.5-24.9 kg/m2;
  • SB, i.e. sitting for an average of at least 9 hours per day;
  • Physically inactive, i.e. engaging in exercise for less than 2 to 3 times per week;
  • Stable body weight (weight gain or loss < 3 kg in the past three months);
  • Willingness to engage in four 6-hour laboratory visits;
  • No difficult cannulation.

Who cannot join

  • Not sedentary, i.e. sitting for less than an average of 9 hours per day;
  • Physically active, i.e. engaging in exercise for more than 3 times a week;
  • Abuse of drugs;
  • Use medication to treat BP, lipid, or glucose metabolism;
  • Pregnant females.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Renyan Ma contact

+31 883887804

renyan.ma@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Hans Savelberg, Phd contact

+31 433881392

hans.savelberg@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Netherlands1 site, 1 recruiting

  • Nutrition and movement science

    Maastricht

    +31 (0)883887804, renyan.ma@maastrichtuniversity.nl

    Recruiting

Other trials in Netherlands

About this study

Official title: Effects of Sitting Interruption Frequency on Cognitive Function and Glucose Metabolism: A Randomized, Controlled Cross-over Study Involving Young Sedentary Adults

Rationale: Sedentary behavior (SB) has been associated with impaired cognitive function in elderly, and negatively impacts glucose metabolism. Interrupting sitting with physical activity (PA) bouts may exert beneficial effects on cognitive function via an improved glucose metabolism. Nevertheless, the impact of breaking up prolonged sitting with various frequencies of PA bouts remains unexplored in young sedentary adults. Moreover, we hypothesize that the pattern of the breaks modifies the effects. Thus, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are highly needed to investigate the effects of interrupting sitting with different frequencies of PA on cognitive function and glucose metabolism. We now hypothesize that interrupting sitting with different frequencies of walking breaks differentially affects cognitive function and glucose metabolism.

Objective: The aim is to investigate the effects of breaking up sitting with different frequencies of PA bouts on cognitive function and glucose metabolism in young sedentary adults.

Read more

Study design: A randomised, controlled cross-over study will be performed, consisting of four interventions in a counterbalanced order: uninterrupted prolonged sitting, short breaks, moderate breaks, and long breaks.

Intervention: Participants will complete four conditions in a randomized, counterbalanced order: sitting (uninterrupted prolonged sitting without any interruptions), short breaks (walk 1 minute every 10 minutes), moderate breaks (walk 3 minutes every 30 minutes), and long breaks (walk 27 minutes during the intervention). Each condition lasts 4.5 hours.

Being tested
Interrupting sitting with walking breaks
Keywords
Sedentary behavior, sitting interruptions, cognition, glucose metabolism
Medical subject headings
Sedentary Behavior

What participants receive

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

  • Interrupting sitting with walking breaksOther

    Participants will engage in 27 minutes walking in different frequencies, including short breaks (walk 1 minute every 10 minutes), moderate breaks (walk 3 minutes every 30 minutes), and long breaks (walk 27 minutes in one time during the intervention).

Study groups in NCT06700187
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Interrupting sittingExperimentalParticipants will engage in low-intensity walking breaks in different frequencies for 4.5 hours
Receives: Other: Interrupting sitting with walking breaks
ControlNo interventionPaticipants will remain seated for 4.5 hours

What is being measured

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

  1. Mental flexibility

    It will be assessed using the computer-based Trial Making Test

    Measured: baseline and 5 hours post baseline

Secondary outcomes (9)

  1. Interference

    Interference is assessed by the computer-based Stroop task

    Measured: baseline and 5 hours post baseline

  2. Memory

    Memory is assessed by the computer-based n-Back Test

    Measured: baseline and 5 hours post baseline

  3. Attention

    Attention is assessed by the paper-based d2 attention Test

    Measured: baseline and 5 hours post baseline

  4. Glucose metabolism

    Concentration of plasma glucose will be tested.

    Measured: baseline, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 1.5 hour, 2 hour, 3 hour, 4 hour, and 5 hour post baseline

  5. Glucose metabolism

    Concentration of serum insulin will be tested.

    Measured: baseline, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 1.5 hour, 2 hour, 3 hour, 4 hour, and 5 hour post baseline

  6. Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)

    Concentration of serum BDNF, as one of the exploratory outcomes will be tested.

    Measured: baseline, 2 hour, 3 hour, and 5 hour post baseline

  7. Blood lipids

    As exploratory outcomes, concentration of serum total cholesterol (TC), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) will be tested.

    Measured: baseline, and 5 hours post baseline

  8. Serum triacylglycerol (TAG)

    As another exploratory outcome, concentration of serum TAG will be tested.

    Measured: baseline, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 1.5 hour, 2 hour, 3 hour, 4 hour, and 5 hour post baseline

  9. Mood

    Short version of Profile of Mood States (POMS) questionnaire will be used to test mood.

    Measured: baseline and 5 hours post baseline

Timeline

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

  1. First posted21 Nov 2024
  2. Study start3 Oct 2024
  3. Primary completion27 Mar 2026 (estimated)
  4. Study completion27 Mar 2026 (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
Prevention
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Crossover
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
33 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06700187
Sponsor's protocol ID
NL86254.068.24
Other IDs
CCMO, WMO
Acronym
FISCF
Status last verified
Jan 2026
First submitted
12 Nov 2024
Last updated
14 Jan 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: Individuals wanting access to IPD should contact the principal investigator (hans.savelberg@maastrichtuniversity.nl)

Publications

  • Wheeler MJ, Green DJ, Cerin E, Ellis KA, Heinonen I, Lewis J, Naylor LH, Cohen N, Larsen R, Dempsey PC, Kingwell BA, Owen N, Dunstan DW. Combined effects of continuous exercise and intermittent active interruptions to prolonged sitting on postprandial glucose, insulin, and triglycerides in adults with obesity: a randomized crossover trial. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2020 Dec 14;17(1):152. doi: 10.1186/s12966-020-01057-9.

    PubMed 33308235

  • Homer AR, Taylor FC, Dempsey PC, Wheeler MJ, Sethi P, Townsend MK, Grace MS, Green DJ, Cohen ND, Larsen RN, Kingwell BA, Owen N, Dunstan DW. Frequency of Interruptions to Sitting Time: Benefits for Postprandial Metabolism in Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2021 Jun;44(6):1254-1263. doi: 10.2337/dc20-1410. Epub 2021 Apr 26.

    PubMed 33905343

  • Duran AT, Friel CP, Serafini MA, Ensari I, Cheung YK, Diaz KM. Breaking Up Prolonged Sitting to Improve Cardiometabolic Risk: Dose-Response Analysis of a Randomized Crossover Trial. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2023 May 1;55(5):847-855. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003109. Epub 2023 Jan 12.

    PubMed 36728338

  • Wheeler MJ, Green DJ, Ellis KA, Cerin E, Heinonen I, Naylor LH, Larsen R, Wennberg P, Boraxbekk CJ, Lewis J, Eikelis N, Lautenschlager NT, Kingwell BA, Lambert G, Owen N, Dunstan DW. Distinct effects of acute exercise and breaks in sitting on working memory and executive function in older adults: a three-arm, randomised cross-over trial to evaluate the effects of exercise with and without breaks in sitting on cognition. Br J Sports Med. 2020 Jul;54(13):776-781. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2018-100168. Epub 2019 Apr 29.

    PubMed 31036563

  • Wu Y, Van Gerven PWM, de Groot RHM, Eijnde BO, Winkens B, Savelberg HHCM. Effects of breaking up sitting with light-intensity physical activity on cognition and mood in university students. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2023 Mar;33(3):257-266. doi: 10.1111/sms.14277. Epub 2022 Dec 1.

    PubMed 36434768

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Interrupting sitting with walking breaks in people with Sedentary Behaviors and Breaking Prolonged Sitting With Physical Activity, run by Maastricht University Medical Center at 1 site in Netherlands.

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 7 inclusion and 5 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Jan 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 Netherlands. 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?

Contact Renyan Ma (+31 883887804, renyan.ma@maastrichtuniversity.nl), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Mental flexibility (time frame: baseline and 5 hours post baseline). 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 NCT06700187, which also lists 5 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 14 Jan 2026.

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FISCF Clinical Trial NCT06700187 | AzTrials