Exercise Effects on Word Learning

Summary

The aging Veteran population will substantially increase over the next 10 years, as the 24.9% of Veterans who are currently between 55-64 years of age join the 38.5% who are already over age 65. The risk of stroke more than doubles each decade after age 55, which places Veterans at an ever-increasing risk of suffering stroke-related language impairment (i.e., aphasia). Difficulty retrieving words, which negatively impacts psychosocial well-being and quality of life, is the most common complaint in healthy aging and aphasia. Word retrieval interventions to maintain or restore communicative function are needed. Studies have shown that physical exercise can improve word learning in young adults. This study will investigate the effects of exercise on word learning in aging and aphasia. The results will help the us understand how exercise may be used to optimize word retrieval interventions for our aging Veterans.

Conditions

• Aging
• Aphasia

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Retrieval Practice + Moderate Intensity Exercise

Subjects will engage in 30 minutes of moderate-intensity cycling prior to word learning using Retrieval Practice (active retrieval during learning)

BEHAVIORAL

Retrieval Practice + Gentle Stretching

Subject will engage in 30 minutes of gentle upper- and lower- limb stretching prior to word learning using Retrieval Practice (active retrieval during learning)

BEHAVIORAL

Study Only + Moderate Intensity Exercise

Subjects will engage in 30 minutes of gentle stretching prior to word learning using Study Only (no active retrieval during learning)

BEHAVIORAL

Study Only + Gentle Stretching

Subjects will engage in 30 minutes of gentle stretching prior to word learning using Study Only (no active retrieval during learning)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• VA Office of Research and Development

  lead FED

Principal Investigators

• Amy D. Rodriguez, PhD · Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

NONE

Model

CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age

35 Years

Max Age

89 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2016-12-09

Primary Completion

2019-08-16

Completion

2019-08-16

Countries

• United States

Study Locations