Impact of an online guided physical activity training on cognition and gut-brain axis interactions in older adults: protocol of a randomized controlled trial

Simon J Schrenk; Stefan Brodoehl; Stefano Flor; Christiane Frahm; Christian Gaser; Rami Abou Hamdan; Marco Herbsleb; Christoph Kaleta; Fabian Kattlun; Hans-Josef Müller; Christian Puta; Monique Radscheidt; Adriana L Ruiz-Rizzo; Tannaz Saraei; André Scherag; Thomas Steidten; Otto W Witte; Kathrin Finke

doi:10.3389/fnagi.2023.1254194

Impact of an online guided physical activity training on cognition and gut-brain axis interactions in older adults: protocol of a randomized controlled trial

Front Aging Neurosci. 2023 Sep 14:15:1254194. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1254194. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Simon J Schrenk¹, Stefan Brodoehl¹, Stefano Flor², Christiane Frahm¹, Christian Gaser^{1

3}, Rami Abou Hamdan⁴, Marco Herbsleb^{4

5}, Christoph Kaleta², Fabian Kattlun^{1

6}, Hans-Josef Müller⁴, Christian Puta^{4

6

7}, Monique Radscheidt¹, Adriana L Ruiz-Rizzo¹, Tannaz Saraei¹, André Scherag^{6

8

9}, Thomas Steidten⁴, Otto W Witte¹, Kathrin Finke^{1

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, Jena University Hospital - Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany.
² Institute of Experimental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-University zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany.
³ Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital - Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany.
⁴ Department of Sports Medicine and Health Promotion, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany.
⁵ Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital - Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany.
⁶ Center for Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC), Jena University Hospital - Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany.
⁷ Center for Interdisciplinary Prevention of Diseases Related to Professional Activities, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany.
⁸ Center for Clinical Studies, Jena University Hospital - Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany.
⁹ Institute of Medical Statistics, Computer and Data Sciences, Jena University Hospital - Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany.

Abstract

Introduction: By 2050, the worldwide percentage of people 65 years and older is assumed to have doubled compared to current numbers. Therefore, finding ways of promoting healthy (cognitive) aging is crucial. Physical activity is considered an effective approach to counteract not only physical but also cognitive decline. However, the underlying mechanisms that drive the benefits of regular physical activity on cognitive function are not fully understood. This randomized controlled trial aims to analyze the effect of an eight-week standardized physical activity training program in older humans on cognitive, brain, and gut-barrier function as well as the relationship between the resulting changes.

Methods and analysis: One-hundred healthy participants aged 60 to 75 years will be recruited. First, participants will undergo an extensive baseline assessment consisting of neurocognitive tests, functional and structural brain imaging, physical fitness tests, and gut-microbiome profiling. Next, participants will be randomized into either a multi-component physical activity group (experimental condition) or a relaxation group (active control condition), with each training lasting 8 weeks and including an equal number and duration of exercises. The whole intervention will be online-based, i.e., participants will find their intervention schedule and all materials needed on the study website. After the intervention phase, participants will have their post-intervention assessment, which consists of the same measures and tests as the baseline assessment. The primary outcome of this study is the change in the cognitive parameter of visual processing speed from baseline to post-measurement, which will on average take place 10 weeks after the randomization. Secondary outcomes related to cognitive, brain, and microbiome data will be analyzed exploratory. Clinical trial registration: https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00028022.

Keywords: cognition; fMRI; healthy; microbiome; older adults; online intervention; physical activity.