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CompletedNCT03722953Updated Oct 2, 2024

Cerebrovascular Response to Acute Exercise

An interventional study of Control and Aerobic Exercise in Healthy and Physical Activity, sponsored by University of Wisconsin, Madison. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 20 Years to 40 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-10-02.

Sponsored by University of Wisconsin, Madison · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
18
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
20 Years to 40 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Cerebrovascular function and peripheral vascular function will be measured in healthy young adults, before and after acute bouts of aerobic exercise at various intensities.

Read the detailed description

Acute bouts of aerobic exercise have been shown to enhance vascular reactivity of the peripheral circulation; however, the effects of a single exercise session on the cerebral circulation are unknown. This study will measure cerebrovascular function and peripheral vascular function before and after aerobic exercise at high and low intensities.

The research aims are:

  1. To determine if a single bout of aerobic exercise acutely enhances cerebrovascular function
  2. To determine the effect of aerobic exercise intensity and dose on cerebrovascular function in healthy adults.
  3. To determine if the acute exercise-induced changes in cerebrovascular function are associated with acute exercise-induced changes in peripheral vascular function in healthy adults.
02

Conditions studied

  • Healthy
  • Physical Activity

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Keywords

  • Exercise
  • Treadmill
  • Vascular Function
  • Intensity
03

In context

Motor Activity

2,649 studies on the registry are indexed under Motor Activity; 1,205 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 18 is below the median of 60 across 2,309 interventional studies indexed under Motor Activity.

Browse Motor Activity studies →

Lead sponsor

University of Wisconsin, Madison is the lead sponsor of 1,182 studies on the registry; 180 are open to participants now.

Of its 156 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 118 (76%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
20 Years to 40 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Between 20-40 years old
  • BMI \< 30 kg/m2
  • Recreationally active
  • Experience running on a treadmill

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Current smoker
  • History or evidence of: hepatic disease, renal disease, hematological disease, cardiovascular disease, stroke/neurovascular disease, diabetes
  • Taking blood pressure medication
  • History of depression or other mood related disorders
  • Part of a vulnerable population (e.g. pregnant women, prisoner, individuals lacking capacity to consent, etc.)
05

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Basic science
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
18 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Other
    Aerobic Exercise

    Control: Cerebrovascular function and peripheral vascular function will be measured. Aerobic Exercise: Across four separate visits, participants will perform light intensity exercise, light intensity exercise plus an additional task, vigorous intensity exercise and vigorous intensity exercise to match the energy expenditure of light intensity exercise visit.

    Other: Control · Other: Aerobic Exercise

Interventions

  • OtherControl

    1. Ultrasound 2. Blood Pressure 3. Heart Rate 4. Oxygen Saturation

  • OtherAerobic Exercise

    1. Ultrasound 2. Blood Pressure 3. Heart Rate 4. Oxygen Saturation

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Cerebrovascular function

    Utilize ultrasound to measure a change in blood flow velocity in response to a breathing test

    Time frame: Change in cerebrovascular function: measurements occur at baseline and 90 minutes post aerobic exercise to quantify magnitude of change.

  2. Peripheral vascular function

    Utilize ultrasound to measure a change in brachial artery diameter in response to reactive hyperemia

    Time frame: Change in peripheral vascular function: measurements occur at baseline and 60 minutes post aerobic exercise to quantify magnitude of change.

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Gymnasium-Natatorium
    Madison, Wisconsin 53706, United States
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Barnes JN, Schmidt JE, Nicholson WT, Joyner MJ. Cyclooxygenase inhibition abolishes age-related differences in cerebral vasodilator responses to hypercapnia. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2012 Jun;112(11):1884-90. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01270.2011. Epub 2012 Mar 22. PubMed 22442028 ↗
  • Richiardi J, Monsch AU, Haas T, Barkhof F, Van de Ville D, Radu EW, Kressig RW, Haller S. Altered cerebrovascular reactivity velocity in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging. 2015 Jan;36(1):33-41. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2014.07.020. Epub 2014 Jul 24. PubMed 25146454 ↗
  • Sam K, Crawley AP, Conklin J, Poublanc J, Sobczyk O, Mandell DM, Venkatraghavan L, Duffin J, Fisher JA, Black SE, Mikulis DJ. Development of White Matter Hyperintensity Is Preceded by Reduced Cerebrovascular Reactivity. Ann Neurol. 2016 Aug;80(2):277-85. doi: 10.1002/ana.24712. PubMed 27352039 ↗
  • Shin HK, Jones PB, Garcia-Alloza M, Borrelli L, Greenberg SM, Bacskai BJ, Frosch MP, Hyman BT, Moskowitz MA, Ayata C. Age-dependent cerebrovascular dysfunction in a transgenic mouse model of cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Brain. 2007 Sep;130(Pt 9):2310-9. doi: 10.1093/brain/awm156. Epub 2007 Jul 16. PubMed 17638859 ↗
  • Barnes JN, Taylor JL, Kluck BN, Johnson CP, Joyner MJ. Cerebrovascular reactivity is associated with maximal aerobic capacity in healthy older adults. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2013 May 15;114(10):1383-7. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01258.2012. Epub 2013 Mar 7. PubMed 23471946 ↗
  • Tarumi T, Zhang R. Cerebral hemodynamics of the aging brain: risk of Alzheimer disease and benefit of aerobic exercise. Front Physiol. 2014 Jan 21;5:6. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2014.00006. eCollection 2014. PubMed 24478719 ↗
  • Mitchell GF. Effects of central arterial aging on the structure and function of the peripheral vasculature: implications for end-organ damage. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2008 Nov;105(5):1652-60. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.90549.2008. Epub 2008 Sep 4. PubMed 18772322 ↗
  • Ranjan V, Xiao Z, Diamond SL. Constitutive NOS expression in cultured endothelial cells is elevated by fluid shear stress. Am J Physiol. 1995 Aug;269(2 Pt 2):H550-5. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.1995.269.2.H550. PubMed 7544542 ↗
  • LASSEN NA. Cerebral blood flow and oxygen consumption in man. Physiol Rev. 1959 Apr;39(2):183-238. doi: 10.1152/physrev.1959.39.2.183. No abstract available. PubMed 13645234 ↗
  • Endres M, Gertz K, Lindauer U, Katchanov J, Schultze J, Schrock H, Nickenig G, Kuschinsky W, Dirnagl U, Laufs U. Mechanisms of stroke protection by physical activity. Ann Neurol. 2003 Nov;54(5):582-90. doi: 10.1002/ana.10722. PubMed 14595647 ↗
  • Tinken TM, Thijssen DH, Hopkins N, Black MA, Dawson EA, Minson CT, Newcomer SC, Laughlin MH, Cable NT, Green DJ. Impact of shear rate modulation on vascular function in humans. Hypertension. 2009 Aug;54(2):278-85. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.109.134361. Epub 2009 Jun 22. PubMed 19546374 ↗
  • Dawson EA, Green DJ, Cable NT, Thijssen DH. Effects of acute exercise on flow-mediated dilatation in healthy humans. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2013 Dec;115(11):1589-98. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00450.2013. Epub 2013 Sep 12. PubMed 24030665 ↗
  • Iadecola C, Zhang F. Nitric oxide-dependent and -independent components of cerebrovasodilation elicited by hypercapnia. Am J Physiol. 1994 Feb;266(2 Pt 2):R546-52. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.1994.266.2.R546. PubMed 7511352 ↗
  • Molina C, Sabin JA, Montaner J, Rovira A, Abilleira S, Codina A. Impaired cerebrovascular reactivity as a risk marker for first-ever lacunar infarction: A case-control study. Stroke. 1999 Nov;30(11):2296-301. doi: 10.1161/01.str.30.11.2296. PubMed 10548661 ↗
  • Buratti L, Viticchi G, Falsetti L, Balucani C, Altamura C, Petrelli C, Provinciali L, Vernieri F, Silvestrini M. Thresholds of impaired cerebral hemodynamics that predict short-term cognitive decline in asymptomatic carotid stenosis. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2016 Oct;36(10):1804-1812. doi: 10.1177/0271678X15613526. Epub 2015 Oct 27. PubMed 26661219 ↗
  • Moraine JJ, Lamotte M, Berre J, Niset G, Leduc A, Naeije R. Relationship of middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity to intensity during dynamic exercise in normal subjects. Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1993;67(1):35-8. doi: 10.1007/BF00377701. PubMed 8375362 ↗
  • Ide K, Secher NH. Cerebral blood flow and metabolism during exercise. Prog Neurobiol. 2000 Jul;61(4):397-414. doi: 10.1016/s0301-0082(99)00057-x. PubMed 10727781 ↗
  • Barnes JN, Harvey RE, Miller KB, Jayachandran M, Malterer KR, Lahr BD, Bailey KR, Joyner MJ, Miller VM. Cerebrovascular Reactivity and Vascular Activation in Postmenopausal Women With Histories of Preeclampsia. Hypertension. 2018 Jan;71(1):110-117. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.117.10248. Epub 2017 Nov 20. PubMed 29158356 ↗
  • Miller KB, Howery AJ, Harvey RE, Eldridge MW, Barnes JN. Cerebrovascular Reactivity and Central Arterial Stiffness in Habitually Exercising Healthy Adults. Front Physiol. 2018 Aug 17;9:1096. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2018.01096. eCollection 2018. PubMed 30174609 ↗
  • Morrell MJ, Harty HR, Adams L, Guz A. Changes in total pulmonary resistance and PCO2 between wakefulness and sleep in normal human subjects. J Appl Physiol (1985). 1995 Apr;78(4):1339-49. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1995.78.4.1339. PubMed 7615441 ↗
  • Meza S, Mendez M, Ostrowski M, Younes M. Susceptibility to periodic breathing with assisted ventilation during sleep in normal subjects. J Appl Physiol (1985). 1998 Nov;85(5):1929-40. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1998.85.5.1929. PubMed 9804601 ↗
  • Barnes JN, Nualnim N, Dhindsa M, Renzi CP, Tanaka H. Macro- and microvascular function in habitually exercising systemic lupus erythematosus patients. Scand J Rheumatol. 2014;43(3):209-16. doi: 10.3109/03009742.2013.846408. Epub 2014 Jan 7. PubMed 24392783 ↗
  • Dhindsa M, Sommerlad SM, DeVan AE, Barnes JN, Sugawara J, Ley O, Tanaka H. Interrelationships among noninvasive measures of postischemic macro- and microvascular reactivity. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2008 Aug;105(2):427-32. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.90431.2008. Epub 2008 May 15. PubMed 18483158 ↗
  • Ogoh S, Sorensen H, Hirasawa A, Sasaki H, Washio T, Hashimoto T, Bailey DM, Secher NH. Dynamic cerebral autoregulation is unrelated to decrease in external carotid artery blood flow during acute hypotension in healthy young men. Exp Physiol. 2016 Aug 1;101(8):1040-9. doi: 10.1113/EP085772. Epub 2016 Jun 21. PubMed 27228963 ↗
  • Tanaka H, Shimizu S, Ohmori F, Muraoka Y, Kumagai M, Yoshizawa M, Kagaya A. Increases in blood flow and shear stress to nonworking limbs during incremental exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006 Jan;38(1):81-5. doi: 10.1249/01.mss.0000191166.81789.de. PubMed 16394957 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Oct 2, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03722953
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Oct 29, 2018
Start date
Dec 1, 2018
Primary completion
Mar 9, 2020
Completion
Mar 9, 2020
Last update
Oct 2, 2024

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Jun 2022. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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