Exercise for Memory Rehabilitation in Epilepsy

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · Jul 7, 2021

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at whether a 6-week exercise program can help improve memory in people with Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy (IGE), a type of epilepsy that includes various seizure types. The study will compare participants who follow the exercise program with those who do not exercise at all. Researchers will also examine any changes in the brain that might explain improvements in memory and check if these benefits last for at least six weeks after the program ends.

To participate, individuals should be between 18 and 55 years old, able to speak English, and have a confirmed diagnosis of IGE. They should also have had no more than four seizure days per month in the past six months and should engage in less physical activity than recommended by heart health guidelines. Participants will undergo some assessments and may have brain scans. This trial is a great opportunity for eligible individuals to potentially improve their memory while contributing to important research on epilepsy and exercise.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • males and females
• • ages 18-65 years old
• • speaks English fluently
• • able to provide written informed consent
• • have no contraindications to 3-Telsa MRI
• • clinician-confirmed diagnosis of IGE (IGE includes epilepsy syndromes such as juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, juvenile absence epilepsy, childhood absence epilepsy, and generalized tonic-clonic seizures alone)
• • relatively healthy with no comorbid medical conditions besides epilepsy
• • normal pre-enrollment structural clinical MRI of the brain (if available)
• • having less than the American Heart Association recommendation of physical activity in adults (at least 30 min moderate-intensity aerobic activity at least 5 days/week (150 min total), or at least 25 min vigorous aerobic activity at least 3 days/week (75 min total) and moderate-/high-intensity muscle strengthening activity at least 2 days/week)
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • underlying degenerative or metabolic disorders
• • abnormal general or neurological examination
• • abnormal brain MRI
• • recent suicidal ideation in the last 3 months determined based on previous medical history
• • pregnant or positive pregnancy test result on the day of the research session
• • contraindication to an MRI scan at 3-Telsa
• • mental handicap (FSIQ\<80 if tested) or history of special education
• • concurrent participation in a different intervention study
• • diseased or enlarged heart or blood vessels determined based on previous medical history
• • high blood pressure that is not controlled by medications
• • meeting the American Heart Association recommendation of physical activity in adults
• • abnormal physical examination in which study physician determines subject should not participate in the exercise intervention