Enhancing Functional Capacity in Older Adults With Short Session High Intensity Interval Training



Status:Recruiting
Healthy:No
Age Range:65 - 85
Updated:12/14/2018
Start Date:December 3, 2018
End Date:September 30, 2020
Contact:Ayesha Rahman, MS
Email:ayesha.rahman2@va.gov
Phone:(716) 862-8944

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Frailty is a clinical condition of poor physiological reserve that increases risks for
adverse health outcomes including falls, hospitalization and mortality. Exercise is
beneficial for the prevention and even reversal of frailty, yet participation among older
individuals is limited. Short session high intensity interval training (HIIT) is emerging as
a promising exercise strategy that achieves performance gains with lower time commitment. The
goal of this pilot proposal is to establish the feasibility of HIIT exercise training
protocols in 65-85 year old individuals, as well as to demonstrate the ability to detect
functional and physiologic benefits. The investigators anticipate the preliminary research
findings will lay the foundation for future human clinical studies that will permit us to
significantly improve the health of Veterans.

Enhancing functional capacity in older adults with short session high intensity interval
training

Frailty is a condition of poor physiological reserve that increases susceptibility to falls,
hospitalization, disability and mortality. The incidence of frailty rapidly increases after
the age 65, growing from 10% to as many as 50% of those 85 years or older; therefore over 9
million Veterans are either frail or at risk for frailty. Exercise has proven benefits for
frailty, yet older adults rarely attain the recommended 150 minutes a week of moderate
intensity exercise. High intensity interval training (HIIT) is emerging as an alternative as
it delivers similar or better gains than moderate intensity exercise in less time. Recently,
the investigators published that a 3-day-a-week, 10-minute HIIT regimen in aged mice not only
reduces frailty, but leads to both strength and endurance benefits. In addition, the
preliminary data demonstrate significant changes in microRNA (miRNA) profiles. Despite the
potential of short session HIIT to improve functional capacity and lead to better adherence,
the modality has not been tested in individuals 65-85 years of age, and in particular, frail
individuals. The goals of this proposal are to: 1) investigate the feasibility of recruiting
and administering short session HIIT to frail, pre-frail, and non-frail older Veterans and 2)
to characterize the physical performance benefits and serum microRNA (miRNA) profiles in
those participants.

To accomplish these goals the investigators will administer a short session HIIT regimen
totaling only 10-minutes, 3-days-a-week for 3 months, using recumbent exercise cycles, to
65-85 year old participants. The investigators will also utilize next generation RNA sequence
technology to assess HIIT impacts upon microRNA profiles in serum samples. The investigators
anticipate this project will demonstrate the feasibility of administering short session HIIT
to older individuals, including vulnerable frail and pre-frail populations as well as
demonstrate the ability to collect and analyze serum miRNA profiles. The advantages to this
program are the ability to maintain or build muscle mass and improve aerobic conditioning,
especially in older patients where frailty and sarcopenia are so prevalent. This pilot
project will therefore lay the foundation for future clinical trials that further explore the
utility of HIIT to prevent or delay the onset of frailty in larger cohorts, and ultimately
lead to the enhancement of functional capacity and quality of life in aging Veteran
populations.

Inclusion Criteria:

- Male or female

- Any race

- Frail, pre-frail, and non-frail

- Medical clearance for exercise

Exclusion Criteria:

- Severe co-morbidity (e.g. - CHF (class III), COPD (GOLD stage IV), CKD (stage 3))

- VAMC SLUMS score 20

- Physical impairment that prevents use of a recumbent exercise bike
We found this trial at
1
site
Buffalo, New York 14215
Principal Investigator: Bruce R. Troen, MD
Phone: 716-862-6528
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Buffalo, NY
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