Comparing the Effects of Combining Cognitive and Physical Exercise Training on Cognition, and Cerebral Blood Flow Regulation in Men and Women With Chronic Heart Failure

Summary

The objective of this project is to assess the effects of combined physical exercise and cognitive training interventions on cognitive and brain health in patients with heart failure (HF). Also, the role of sex on the effects of the interventions will be assessed.

Conditions

• Chronic Heart Failure
• Aging

Interventions

OTHER

Cognitive training

The cognitive training will involve attention control training and memory training, with thrice-weekly 30-min sessions. Two of these sessions will involve computer or tablet-based attentional control training targeting dual-tasking, updating and working memory, as well as inhibition and switching. Difficulty of cognitive training will be tailored to participants' performances. The remaining session will consist of memory training. Participants will be instructed mnemotechnic, as well as be taught about memory in aging in general.

OTHER

Exercise training

Participants will follow a 20-week physical training program, with 60-min thrice-weekly trainings. The training sessions will start with a 5-min warm-up, followed by an aerobic training (20 min) after which 20-min of resistance/muscular training will take place. The program will end with a 10-min cool-down. Training will be adapted to individuals' baseline capacity as measured by the baseline cardiorespiratory test. For home-training sessions, participants will have access to a complete exercise training program. A certified kinesiologist will supervise trainings. With the Heart rate sensor Polar H10, all the characteristics of the activities will be recorded (type of the activity, intensity, heart rate, duration). A kinesiologist will call participants every week to ensure the smooth running of the exercises training sessions and individualize the care according to the patient's level.

OTHER

Usual care

All patients will receive usual care and be treated according to evidence-based treatments. This will include optimal medical therapy, systematic information regarding dietary and fluid management, and a recommendation for regular physical activity consistent with the latest update of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Guidelines for the Management of Heart Failure. Moreover, patients who benefit from a prescription for a cardiovascular rehabilitation program will be able to follow it, but they will not receive other forms of intervention for the duration of the study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• The Montreal Health Innovations Coordinating Center (MHICC)

  collaborator OTHER

• Montreal Heart Institute

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Louis Bherer, PhD · Montreal Heart Institute

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

50 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-09-01

Primary Completion

2026-12-01

Completion

2026-12-01

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations