Comparing the Effects of Cognitive Training and Physical Exercise on Cognition, Cerebral Autoregulation and Cerebral Vasoreactivity in Men and Women With Heart Failure

Launched by MONTREAL HEART INSTITUTE · Jul 12, 2021

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how combined physical exercise and cognitive training can improve brain health and thinking skills in people with chronic heart failure (HF). The researchers want to understand if these benefits differ between men and women. The trial is currently recruiting participants aged 60 and older who have stable heart failure and can perform both types of training. To qualify, individuals must have been on stable heart failure treatment for at least two months and should not have major limitations in their daily physical activities.

If you or a loved one decides to participate, you can expect to engage in both physical exercises and mental training activities over the course of the study. The goal is to see how these interventions impact brain function and blood flow to the brain. It's important to note that certain health conditions, like recent heart problems or severe exercise intolerance, may exclude someone from joining the trial. Overall, this study aims to find effective ways to help improve the quality of life for those living with heart failure.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age ≥ 60 years old
• • Stable chronic HF on maximally tolerated background treatment for at least 2 months (stable therapy with ACE-I, ARBs and MRA for at least 2 months), regardless of LVEF
• • with no limitation of physical activity in ordinary physical activity (i.e. NYHA class I), moderate symptoms (i.e. NYHA class II) or marked limitation in activity (i.e. NYHA class III)
• • Able to perform cognitive and physical training.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Acute cardiovascular event 1 month prior to randomization, including emergency visit or hospitalization for decompensated HF, acute myocardial infarction, stroke, and transient ischemic attack
• • Planned cardiovascular intervention within 6 months (implantation of any cardiac device, cardiac revascularization, heart transplantation)
• • Severe exercise intolerance
• • Contraindications for exercise testing (e.g., uncorrected severe aortic or carotid stenosis, severe pulmonary hypertension, severe non-revascularizable coronary disease including left main coronary stenosis, significant myocardial ischemia or arrhythmia during low-intensity exercise, acute HF)
• • Severe respiratory disease
• • Non-cardiopulmonary limitation to exercise (e.g., arthritis, claudication or any peripheral neurological disease including other neurodegenerative diseases such as disabling Parkinson)
• • Uncontrolled diabetes or untreated thyroid dysfunction
• • Current or recent malignancy with life expectancy \< 1 year
• • Chronic hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis
• • Unable to read the informed consent form or unable to understand the oral explanations provided by the assessor.