Exercise and Cognition in Middle-Aged Adults With Histories of Childhood Trauma and Cognitive Complaints

Summary

This study aims to identify and compare the effects of acute and chronic exercise interventions on cognition in middle-aged adults with cognitive complaints and a history of abuse or neglect in childhood. Each participant will be enrolled in the study for up to 78 days, in five parts following verification that the participant meets criteria to be included in the study: 1) initial assessment; 2) first acute exercise condition in lab, symptom measures, and neuropsychological testing; 3) second acute exercise condition in lab, symptom measures, and neuropsychological testing; and 4) 9-week exercise intervention or activity as usual outside of lab, with interview, symptom measures, and neuropsychological testing at three-week intervals.

Eligibility

Age range

40–60 years

Sex

All

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Interventions

• Behavioral
  Moderate Intensity Exercise (one day)

  Participants will engage in 40 minutes of cycling at 70-75% maximum heart rate (MHR).

• Behavioral
  Placebo - Light Intensity Exercise (one day)

  Control participants will engage in 40 minutes cycling at 40-50% maximum heart rate (MHR).

• Behavioral
  Moderate Intensity Exercise (9 wks)

  Participants will be asked to engage in moderate-intensity activity four days each week, 40 minutes each time, and will wear an activity monitoring device to assess their fidelity to the intervention.

• Other
  Day 1 Assessments

  Cognitive complaints interview, Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Revised (CESD-R), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), Life Events Checklist (LEC-5), and neuropsychological testing: approximately 1.50 hours

• Other
  Symptom Measures and Neuropsychological Tests

  Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale Revised (CESD-R), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and neuropsychological testing: approximately 1.25 hours

Location