An interventional study of VO2peak Test in Exercise, BDNF and Sex Differences, sponsored by McMaster University. Recruiting at 1 site in Canada. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 35 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-11-03.
Sponsored by McMaster University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science
A single bout of exercise can improve cognitive abilities like memory and attention. These functions help us navigate through everyday life. However, we do not fully understand how exercise improves cognitive abilities. We believe that exercise improves the brain by increasing the amount of BDNF in the blood. BDNF is very important for learning and memory. However, we still do not know if BDNF responds differently to exercise between females and males.
The purpose of this work is to characterize potential sex-differences in the circulating BDNF response to acute exercise. We will test the hypothesis that males will have greater serum and plasma BDNF responses compared to females following a maximal exercise test.
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This study's planned enrollment of 50 is below the median of 60 across 8,388 interventional studies indexed under Motor Activity.
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Responses will be compared between males and females following a single experimental visit. Participants will complete a incremental ramp test to volitional exhaustion on a cycle ergometer, with venous blood draws characterizing BDNF responses at baseline and during the recovery period up to 1-hour post-exercise.
Behavioral: VO2peak Test
Incremental ramp test to volitional exhaustion on a cycle ergometer.
Plasma and Serum BDNF
Measured via ELISA analysis of venous samples obtained from a forearm vein
Time frame: At baseline and 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes post-exercise.
Platelet Count
Measured from venous samples obtained from a forearm vein
Time frame: At baseline and 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes post-exercise.
Blood lactate
Measured from venous samples obtained from a forearm vein
Time frame: At baseline and 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes post-exercise.
Oxygen uptake
Breath-by-breath analysis performed via metabolic cart
Time frame: During incremental ramp test to volitional exhaustion
Flow-mediated dilation (FMD)
Measured via brachial artery ultrasound
Time frame: At baseline and 15 and 60 minutes post-exercise.
Plan to share: Yes — The investigators will share individual patient data (de-identified) with researchers upon request
Supporting information: Study protocol, Statistical analysis plan
Time frame: Beginning 12 months and ending 36 months following article publication.
Access criteria: Anyone who wishes to access the data.
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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