Home › NCT05972265

Childhood Trauma, Exercise, and Cognition

Exercise and Cognition in Middle-Aged Adults With Histories of Childhood Trauma and Cognitive Complaints

Who can join

Ages 40 to 60 · All sexes · Healthy volunteers welcome

Inclusion Criteria:

* between 40 and 60 years of age
* history of child abuse or neglect
* have a complaint about memory, attention, or executive function
* native or fluent English speaker
* normal or corrected to normal vision and hearing
* medically healthy

Exclusion Criteria:

* Score indicating a history of moderate-intensity activity, hard-intensity activity, or very-hard intensity activity on the Stanford Brief Activity Survey
* current excessive alcohol or other substance use
* eating disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, or those judged to be an immediate suicide risk based on having an active plan with intent
* autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or other neurodevelopmental disorder
* neurocognitive disorder, or illnesses or history of neurological events known to cause neurocognitive disorders (e.g., traumatic brain injury, status epilepticus, stroke)
* reported chest pain or dizziness during exercise; any endorsed and not controlled medical condition that could make exercise contraindicated, including hypertension; heart disease; heart failure; hear rhythm disorders; heart valve disease; metabolic conditions; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; pulmonary hypertension; cystic fibrosis; asthma; and bone, joint, or soft tissue problems
* pregnancy, major medical disorders such as cancer, or any other condition believed to put a participant at risk

About the study

This study aims to identify and compare the effects of acute and chronic exercise interventions on cognition in middle-aged adults with cognitive complaints and a history of abuse or neglect in childhood. Each participant will be enrolled in the study for up to 78 days, in five parts following verification that the participant meets criteria to be included in the study: 1) initial assessment; 2) first acute exercise condition in lab, symptom measures, and neuropsychological testing; 3) second acute exercise condition in lab, symptom measures, and neuropsychological testing; and 4) 9-week exercise intervention or activity as usual outside of lab, with interview, symptom measures, and neuropsychological testing at three-week intervals.

What is being tested

• Moderate Intensity Exercise (one day) (behavioral)
• Placebo - Light Intensity Exercise (one day) (behavioral)
• Moderate Intensity Exercise (9 wks) (behavioral)
• Day 1 Assessments (other)
• Symptom Measures and Neuropsychological Tests (other)
• Day 36 Assessments (other)

Sponsor: University of Texas at Austin · Participants: 34 · Started: Nov 27, 2023

Contact the study team

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT05972265

Locations in the U.S.

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Oct 2, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.