The preliminary effects of moderate aerobic training on cognitive function in people with TBI and significant memory impairment: a proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial

Carly L A Wender; Brian M Sandroff; Denise Krch; Glenn Wylie; Christopher M Cirnigliaro; Jill Wecht; Nancy D Chiaravalloti; John DeLuca

doi:10.1080/13554794.2021.1990964

The preliminary effects of moderate aerobic training on cognitive function in people with TBI and significant memory impairment: a proof-of-concept randomized controlled trial

Neurocase. 2021 Oct;27(5):430-435. doi: 10.1080/13554794.2021.1990964. Epub 2021 Oct 27.

Authors

Carly L A Wender^{1

2}, Brian M Sandroff^{2

3}, Denise Krch^{1

2}, Glenn Wylie^{2

4

5}, Christopher M Cirnigliaro^{3

6}, Jill Wecht^{7

8}, Nancy D Chiaravalloti^{1

2

3}, John DeLuca^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research, Kessler Foundation, East Hanover, USA.
² Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rutgers-NJ Medical School, Newark, USA.
³ Center for Neuropsychology & Neuroscience Research, Kessler Foundation, West Orange, USA.
⁴ Rocco Ortenzio Neuroimaging Center, Kessler Foundation, West Orange, USA.
⁵ War Related Illness and Injury Study Center, West Orange, United States.
⁶ The Department of Veteran's Affairs, Rr&d National Center for the Medical Consequences of Sci, Department of Veterans Affairs Rehabilitation Research & Development Service, National Center for the Medical Consequences of Spinal Cord Injury, East Orange, USA.
⁷ James J. Peters VAMC, New York, USA.
⁸ Department of Medicine and Rehabilitation Medicine, The Icahn School of Medicine, New York, USA.

PMID: 34704543
DOI: 10.1080/13554794.2021.1990964

Abstract

This single-blinded RCT investigated cognitive effects of aerobic exercise in persons with TBI-related memory impairment. Five participants . were randomly assigned to 12-weeks of either supervised moderate intensity aerobic cycling or an active control. Outcome measures included neuropsychological assessments and structural neuroimaging (MRI,). The exercise group demonstrated greater improvements on auditory verbal learning (RAVLT; d=1.54) and processing speed (SDMT; d=1.58). The exercise group showed larger increases in volume of the left hippocampus (d=1.49) and right thalamus (d=1.44). These pilot data suggest that 12-weeks of moderate intensity aerobic cycling may improve memory and processing speed in those with TBI-related memory impairments.

Keywords: MRI; TBI; aerobic exercise; cognition; memory.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cognition
Cognitive Dysfunction* / etiology
Cognitive Dysfunction* / therapy
Exercise
Exercise Therapy* / methods
Humans
Memory Disorders / etiology
Neuropsychological Tests
Treatment Outcome