Aerobic Exercise for Cognitive Function

(TEEMY Trial)

Overseen By Shin Park, PhD

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of North Carolina, Greensboro

Disqualifiers: Cardiac, Pulmonary, Metabolic, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

80 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how the time of day affects the impact of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on memory in young adults. Researchers aim to determine if morning or afternoon exercise improves short- and long-term memory differently. Participants will either exercise or rest in the morning or afternoon to test these effects. Individuals aged 18-25, who are regularly active and free from certain health conditions like asthma or sleep disorders, might be suitable candidates. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to understanding how exercise timing can optimize memory.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that moderate-intensity aerobic exercise is safe for young adults?

Research has shown that moderate exercise is generally safe for most people. It improves heart health and lowers the risk of major health problems. The American Heart Association recommends that adults engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week.

One study found that the risk of heart issues during moderate exercise is low, indicating it is well-tolerated by healthy adults. Therefore, for those considering joining a trial involving this type of exercise, evidence suggests it is safe for most individuals. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores how moderate-intensity aerobic exercise might boost cognitive function. Unlike medications or supplements that are typically used to support brain health, this approach focuses on exercise timing and its effects on the brain. By comparing morning and afternoon exercise groups, the trial aims to uncover whether the time of day impacts cognitive benefits. This could lead to personalized exercise recommendations, making brain health strategies more effective and accessible.

What evidence suggests that moderate-intensity aerobic exercise might be an effective treatment for cognitive function?

Research shows that moderate-intensity aerobic exercise can improve thinking skills, including memory. Studies have found that exercising for about 11 to 21 minutes at a moderate pace boosts brain functions. A review of multiple studies found that this type of exercise significantly enhances thinking skills compared to inactivity. Evidence from well-designed studies also supports improvements in thinking skills with moderate-to-vigorous exercise. In this trial, participants will join either a morning or afternoon exercise group to evaluate the effects of aerobic exercise on cognitive function. These findings suggest that aerobic exercise might effectively improve memory and other thinking skills in young adults. ^{3 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Kyoung Shin Park, PhD

Principal Investigator

UNC Greensboro

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for healthy young adults aged 18-25 who are already active, meeting the recommended guidelines of at least 90 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous physical activity. Participants must be willing to visit the lab twice and avoid other exercise for four days.

Inclusion Criteria

I can commit to 2 visits over 4 days and avoid exercising outside the lab during this time.

You are currently exercising for at least 90 minutes per week as recommended by the American College of Sports Medicine.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Participants complete baseline cognitive tests without exercise intervention

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Exercise Intervention

Participants engage in a 30-minute moderate-intensity cardiovascular exercise session, either in the morning or afternoon, followed by cognitive tests

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for memory performance immediately and 24 hours after the exercise intervention

1 day

2 visits (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise

Trial Overview The study tests how doing moderate-intensity aerobic exercise at different times of day affects memory in young adults. It looks into whether morning or afternoon exercise has a better impact on both short-term and long-term verbal-auditory and visuospatial memory.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Morning group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participant are assigned to the morning group (7-9am) for 30-min exercise/rest interventions.

Group II: Afternoon group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participant are assigned to the afternoon group (3-5pm) for 30-min exercise/rest interventions.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of North Carolina, Greensboro

Lead Sponsor

Trials

33

Recruited

16,700+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD) affects daily functioning in a hierarchical manner, with executive functioning having a more significant impact on function than memory.

Aerobic exercise may enhance cognitive and functional abilities in individuals with AD by potentially altering harmful changes in the brain, suggesting a beneficial intervention for improving quality of life.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improving cognition and function through exercise intervention in Alzheimer's disease. Yu, F., Kolanowski, AM., Strumpf, NE., et al.[2022]

Aerobic exercise has been shown to enhance various aspects of brain function and cognition, supported by both human and animal studies, indicating its importance for mental performance.

Regular physical activity, especially in children, not only combats obesity but also has the potential to improve academic performance, suggesting that exercise is crucial for both physical and mental health throughout life.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Be smart, exercise your heart: exercise effects on brain and cognition. Hillman, CH., Erickson, KI., Kramer, AF.[2023]

A 6-month aerobic exercise program involving 206 healthy middle-aged and older adults led to improvements in cognitive functions and cerebrovascular regulation, indicating that physical activity can enhance brain health.

The study found specific associations between cognitive improvements and changes in cerebrovascular function, suggesting that better blood flow regulation during exercise and hypercapnia may contribute to enhanced executive functions and fluency.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Aerobic exercise improves cognition and cerebrovascular regulation in older adults. Guadagni, V., Drogos, LL., Tyndall, AV., et al.[2020]

A 1-year aerobic exercise program significantly improved cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults, increasing peak VO2 by about 10%, but did not prevent age-related declines in brain volume or cortical thickness.

Both aerobic exercise and stretching improved cognitive performance over time, but there was no significant difference between the two groups, indicating that while exercise is beneficial, it may not fully counteract brain aging effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Aerobic exercise training and neurocognitive function in cognitively normal older adults: A one-year randomized controlled trial. Tarumi, T., Patel, NR., Tomoto, T., et al.[2023]

A systematic review of 11 studies with 1497 participants found that aerobic exercise significantly improves global cognitive ability in older adults with mild cognitive impairment, as measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores.

While aerobic exercise showed a small positive effect on memory recall, no significant improvements were observed in other cognitive domains, indicating that while beneficial, the effects of exercise on cognition may be limited.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Aerobic exercise ameliorates cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Zheng, G., Xia, R., Zhou, W., et al.[2022]

In a 5-year study involving 106 older adults, neither high-intensity interval training (HIIT) nor moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) showed significant cognitive benefits compared to a control group following national physical activity guidelines.

While exercise type did not impact cognitive performance, higher cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) was linked to better processing speed and verbal memory, suggesting that maintaining or improving CRF can positively influence certain cognitive abilities in older adults.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

5 Years of Exercise Intervention Did Not Benefit Cognition Compared to the Physical Activity Guidelines in Older Adults, but Higher Cardiorespiratory Fitness Did. A Generation 100 Substudy. Sokołowski, DR., Hansen, TI., Rise, HH., et al.[2021]

Acute aerobic exercise significantly improves attention in physically active adults, with a mean change score of 3.46 compared to a control condition, while resistance exercise did not show a significant difference from the control.

Both aerobic and resistance exercises led to marginal improvements in executive function, suggesting that incorporating both types of exercise into training routines may enhance cognitive performance alongside physical benefits.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effects of a resistance vs. an aerobic single session on attention and executive functioning in adults. Dunsky, A., Abu-Rukun, M., Tsuk, S., et al.[2023]

Aerobic exercise may provide cognitive benefits for survivors of ischemic cerebrovascular disorders, particularly for those who already have cognitive impairment, with a significant effect size of 0.31 indicating improvement.

Moderate intensity aerobic exercise appears to be the most effective for enhancing cognitive function, although the overall impact on global cognitive function was not statistically significant.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cognitive Gains of Aerobic Exercise in Patients With Ischemic Cerebrovascular Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Shu, Y., He, Q., Xie, Y., et al.[2021]

In a study of 421 older adults at risk for cognitive impairment, higher cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) was linked to better executive functions and processing speed over a two-year period.

The study found that while CRF positively influenced overall cognitive function, it did not show a significant association with memory performance.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Cognition: Longitudinal Associations in the FINGER Study. Pentikäinen, H., Savonen, K., Ngandu, T., et al.[2020]

In a study with 20 healthy participants, moderate intensity aerobic exercise improved reaction times on a cognitive task without affecting accuracy, suggesting that exercise can enhance executive function.

The use of a novel tablet-based test during exercise shows promise for further research into the relationship between physical activity and cognitive performance, as it allows for easy and reliable assessment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise improves reaction time without compromising accuracy in a novel easy-to-administer tablet-based cognitive task. Rattray, B., Smee, D.[2022]

Aerobic exercise significantly improved cognitive function in a rat model of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) by shortening the latency in the Water Maze test, indicating enhanced memory and learning capabilities.

The study revealed that exercise modulates the NF-κB/miR-503/BDNF pathway, where exercise downregulates miR-503 and NF-κB, leading to increased levels of BDNF, a protein crucial for neuron survival and function.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Aerobic exercise relieved vascular cognitive impairment via NF-κB/miR-503/BDNF pathway. Niu, Y., Wan, C., Zhou, B., et al.[2020]

A 6-month randomized controlled trial will assess the effects of aerobic training (AT), resistance training (RT), and their combination on cognitive function in 216 older adults (ages 65-85) with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

The study aims to determine how different types of exercise can help prevent cognitive decline and potentially delay the onset of dementia, highlighting the importance of exercise as a therapeutic intervention for cognitive health.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reshaping the path of mild cognitive impairment by refining exercise prescription: a study protocol of a randomized controlled trial to understand the "what," "for whom," and "how" of exercise to promote cognitive function. Barha, CK., Falck, RS., Best, JR., et al.[2022]

A study involving 4,931 older adults found that higher cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is associated with better cognitive function, as measured by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), with a significant reduction in the likelihood of cognitive impairment for each increment in CRF.

The results suggest that adhering to public health guidelines for physical activity can improve or maintain CRF, which may help preserve cognitive function in healthy older adults.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Relationship between Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scores in Older Adults. Farrell, SW., Abramowitz, AR., Willis, BL., et al.[2018]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9256523/

Can exercise shape your brain? A review of aerobic ... Recent reviews have observed that best cognitive enhancements were obtained between 11 and 21 min when exercising at moderate-to-vigorous intensity [11], and ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6527141/

Physical Activity, Cognition, and Brain Outcomes: A Review of ... Moderate evidence from randomized controlled trials indicates an association between moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA and improvements in cognition.

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0020748918300026

The effectiveness of physical exercise on cognitive and ... Aerobic exercise at moderate intensity or above and a total training duration of > 24 hours can lead to a more pronounced effect on global cognition.

4. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1556721/full

The effects of physical exercise on cognitive function in ... A recent meta-analysis found that moderate-intensity aerobic exercise results in greater improvements in cognitive abilities compared to both ...

5. who.int who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity

Physical activity Regular physical activity provides significant physical and mental health benefits. In adults, physical activity contributes to prevention ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6557987/

Effects of Exercise to Improve Cardiovascular Health - PMC These studies indicate that both moderate and high intensity exercise training improve cardiovascular function in heart failure patients ...

7. heart.org heart.org/en/healthy-living/fitness/fitness-basics/aha-recs-for-physical-activity-in-adults

AHA Physical Activity Recommendations ... Recommendations for Adults​​ Get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic ...

8. ahajournals.org ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.112.123117?doi=10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.112.123117

Cardiovascular Risk of High- Versus Moderate-Intensity ... The results of the current study indicate that the risk of a cardiovascular event is low after both high-intensity exercise and moderate-intensity exercise.

9. acsm.org acsm.org/education-resources/trending-topics-resources/physical-activity-guidelines/

Physical Activity Guidelines All healthy adults aged 18–65 years should participate in moderate intensity aerobic physical activity for a minimum of 30 minutes on five days per week, or ...