Creatine and Resistance Training in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age60+
SponsorWestern University, Canada
About this trial
The goal of this 26-week trial is to learn if creatine supplementation and resistance training (i.e., weightlifting; exercise that increases muscle mass), alone and together, impact cognition, brain health, and physical function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Previous studies have shown that resistance training improves cognition and brain health in older adults. Creatine is naturally occurring in the human body and is known to decline with age. Studies have shown that creatine increases muscle mass and bone density in older adults when supplemented. Some research has suggested that creatine may also improve cognition and brain health. However, little is known about how creatine supplementation affects the aging brain and body alone and when combined with resistance training, especially in those with known cognitive impairment.
In this study, participants will be randomly assigned to one of four groups: 1) creatine and resistance training, 2) placebo and resistance training, 3) creatine and active control (balance and tone classes), or 4) placebo and active control. Participants in the creatine groups will take creatine every day during the study. Participants in the placebo groups will take a look-alike substance that contains no drug every day during the study. Participants in the resistance training groups will attend three 60-minute classes per week that target each major muscle group and will increase in difficulty during the study. Participants in the active control group will attend three 60-minute classes per week that will consist of balance, stretching, and range of motion exercises. This group accounts for variables such as physical training received by traveling to the training centres, social interaction, and changes in lifestyle secondary to study participation.
Researchers will collect information before and after the 26 weeks to see if creatine supplementation and/or resistance training have any effects on cognition, brain health, and/or physical function. The investigators suspect that both creatine supplementation and resistance training will improve cognition, brain health, and physical function alone. However, it is thought that the combination of creatine supplementation and resistance training will improve cognition, brain health, and physical function more.
Eligibility criteria
This trial does not accept healthy volunteersQualifiers
be 60 years of age or older,
live independently in the community,
have normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing,
read, write, and speak English fluently,
Disqualifiers
None
Trial design
Design model
Factorial
Treatments tested in this trial
Creatine monohydrate
Dietary supplementParticipants will consume one serving of creatine daily (0.10g of creatine/kg of body weight). This relative dosing approach ensures that smaller participants do not receive excessive doses, while larger participants receive an adequate amount. There is currently limited evidence to conclude the effectiveness of timing daily creatine intake, but it is recommended that creatine be consumed at mealtime for optimal absorption. Participants will choose what meal they will take the supplement and will be asked to keep timing consistent throughout the study. This daily low dose method was chosen because other methods (high-dose loading) may have negative side effects (e.g., water retention, cramping).
Resistance training
BehavioralParticipants will use the programmable weight machines along with free weights to target primary muscle groups. In addition, they will complete mini-squats, mini-lunges, and lunge walks. Participants will complete two sets of 6-8 reps. Training stimulus will be increased using the 7RM method - when 2 sets of 6-8 reps are completed with proper form and without discomfort. The investigators will record the number of sets completed and the load lifted for each exercise for each participant at every class.
Treatment groups
200 Participants
are divided into 4 treatment groupsGroup A: Creatine monohydrate supplementation and resistance trainingExperimental treatment 2 interventions
Group B: Creatine monohydrate supplementation and active control groupExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group C: Placebo supplementation and resistance trainingExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group D: Placebo supplementation and active control groupNo intervention 0 interventions
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Corsi Span - Corsi Block Tapping Task
Visuospatial working memory will be assessed using the forward and reverse Corsi block-tapping task. Participants will be given an iPad to complete the task. In this task, participants will see nine BLUE blocks on the screen. For each trial, a sequence of blocks will turn RED one by one. Their task is to remember the order in which the blocks light up and then repeat the sequence in the same order (forward Corsi) or backwards (reverse Corsi) by tapping on the blocks. Participants will first complete two practice trials before the true trials to ensure that the instructions are understood. Sequences will become increasingly more difficult with a maximum sequence of nine and a minimum of 2. The maximum sequence number that each participant correctly reproduces (Corsi span) will be measured, where higher scores indicate better visuospatial working memory.
Time frame
Baseline and 26 weeks2
Reaction Time - Corsi Block Tapping Task
Visuospatial working memory will be assessed using the forward and reverse Corsi block-tapping task. Participants will be given an iPad to complete the task. In this task, participants will see nine BLUE blocks on the screen. For each trial, a sequence of blocks will turn RED one by one. Their task is to remember the order in which the blocks light up and then repeat the sequence in the same order (forward Corsi) or backwards (reverse Corsi) by tapping on the blocks. Participants will first complete two practice trials before the true trials to ensure that the instructions are understood. Sequences will become increasingly more difficult with a maximum sequence of nine and a minimum of 2. Reaction time, or how fast the participant can reproduce each sequence, will be measured.
Time frame
Baseline and 26 weeksSecondary outcomes
1
Interference Score - Stroop Task
Investigators will examine the interference score for each participant using the Stroop task. Participants are required to read the colour of the ink that each word is printed in and inhibit what the word actually says. The time to complete this test is recorded in seconds. Higher scores reflect better performance and less interference.
Time frame
Baseline and 26 weeks2
Span Capacity - Digits Forward and Backward Subtests
Working memory using the Digits Forward and Backward subtests. Participants are required to memorize and recall a series of number lists both forward and backward. Span capacity (the largest sequence to be recalled) will be measured. The minimum sequence for the forward test is three and the maximum is nine. The minimum sequence for the backward test is two and the maximum is eight. Higher sequences reproduced indicate better working memory.
Time frame
Baseline and 26 weeks3
Time - Trail Making Test (Part B)
Mental flexibility using the Trail Making Test (Part B). Participants will have to alternate between numbers and letters without removing the pen from the page. The time to complete this test is recorded in seconds.
Time frame
Baseline and 26 weeks4
Time - Timed Up & Go (TUG) Test
A test of functional mobility. Participants are seated in a chair and must stand up, walk three meters at their usual pace, turn around, return to their chair, and sit back down. The time to complete each of two separate trials is recorded in seconds. Time will be averaged between the two trials.
Time frame
Baseline and 26 weeksOther outcomes
1
Hippocampal Volume - Structural MRI
Hippocampal volume will be examined in a sub-set of participants using MRI. Participants will undergo structural MRI on the 3T Siemens scanner at the Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping (CFMM) on Western University campus. Participants will complete T1 and T2 high resolution anatomical scans.
Time frame
Baseline and 26 weeks2
Structural Integrity - Structural MRI
Structural integrity will be examined in a sub-set of participants using MRI. Participants will undergo diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) on the 3T Siemens scanner at the Centre for Functional and Metabolic Mapping (CFMM) on campus. DTI allows for evaluation of microstructures in the brain by measuring water movement.
Time frame
Baseline and 26 weeks3
Resting State Functional Connectivity - Functional MRI
Participants will be asked to remain as still as possible with eyes open while a 12-minute functional scan is performed. This will allow the investigators to examine activation in the resting state network.
Time frame
Baseline and 26 weeks4
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy - Functional MRI
Provides information on metabolic activity in the brain. This technique will be used to examine key concentrations in the brain relevant to our study (e.g., creatine).
Time frame
Baseline and 26 weeksSponsors and contacts
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
Western University, Canada
Lead sponsor
Alzheimer Society of Canada
Collaborator
Source ClinicalTrials.gov