The Impact of Exercise on Irisin-BDNF Regulation in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether aerobic exercise can improve sleep and nervous system regulation in adults with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The study will also examine whether exercise changes blood markers related to inflammation and brain health.

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

1. Does four weeks of aerobic exercise change blood levels of irisin, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and markers related to inflammation?
2. Does aerobic exercise improve sleep apnea, heart rate variability, cognitive function, daytime sleepiness, sleep quality, and daily functioning?

Researchers will compare an aerobic exercise group with a sleep education group to determine whether adding regular aerobic exercise provides additional benefits for people with mild to moderate OSA.

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups.

Participants in the aerobic exercise group will:

1. Receive sleep education.
2. Complete four weeks of supervised treadmill exercise, three to five times per week. Each session will last about 45 to 60 minutes. Exercise intensity will be adjusted to each participant's heart rate and physical condition.

Participants in the comparison group will:

1. Receive sleep education about OSA, common symptoms, treatment options, and healthy sleep habits.
2. Practice the recommended healthy sleep habits at home during the four-week study period.

Participants in both groups will complete assessments before and after the four-week study period. These assessments will include an overnight sleep study, blood tests, heart rate measurements, cognitive tests, and questionnaires about daytime sleepiness, sleep quality, and daily functioning.

Conditions

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Supervised Aerobic Exercise

Participants will receive a 4-week supervised treadmill aerobic exercise program, performed 3-5 times per week for approximately 45-60 minutes per session. Exercise intensity will be individualized using heart rate reserve and progressively adjusted during the intervention. Each session will include warm-up, aerobic exercise, and cool-down periods.

BEHAVIORAL

Sleep Hygiene Education

Participants will receive a 20-30-minute sleep education session covering basic information about obstructive sleep apnea, common symptoms, treatment options, and sleep hygiene principles. Participants will be instructed to practice the recommended sleep hygiene strategies at home during the 4-week study period.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Cheng-Kung University Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Ching-Hsia Hung, PhD · National Cheng Kung University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

20 Years

Max Age

68 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-09-01

Primary Completion

2030-12-31

Completion

2030-12-31

Countries

• Taiwan

Study Locations