RESTORES Study
Resveratrol and Exercise to Treat Functional Limitations in Late Life
This research study determined if a nutritional supplement named Resveratrol, when combined with physical exercise, can improve physical abilities of older adults to perform their daily life activities. Sedentary men and women > 65 years of age with functional limitations were recruited to participate. Participants were randomly assigned to one of three groups to receive either a placebo or the supplement Resveratrol in one of two different dosages, and participated in a structured exercise intervention.
Funding: NIH R21AG049974
Principal Investigator: Thomas Buford, PhD
Institution: UAB
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02523274
MASTERS Trial
Metformin to Augment Strength Training Effective Response in Seniors
Strength exercise training is the most effective intervention identified to combat loss of muscle function with advancing age; however, the response to exercise is blunted and highly variable in older adults. This randomized, placebo-controlled trial - a collaboration between two major academic medical centers (University of Kentucky and University of Alabama at Birmingham) - was designed to determine if the addition of a medication (Metformin) will improve the effectiveness of strength training in older adults.
Results: This clinical trial dispelled the hypothesis that the diabetes drug metformin could help exercising seniors gain more muscle mass. The double-blind trial found that older adults who took metformin while performing rigorous resistance exercise training had smaller gains in muscle mass than did the placebo group.
Funding: NIH R01AG046920
Principal Investigators: Charlotte Peterson, PhD; Phil Kern, MD; Marcas Bamman, PhD
Institutions: University of Kentucky and UAB
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02308228
Head, Neck, and Breast Cancer
The UAB Center for Exercise Medicine, UAB Division of Otolaryngology, and UAB Department of Radiation Oncology sponsored a pilot study for head/neck or breast cancer patients evaluating the effects of radiation and chemotherapy on muscle mass and function/strenth, and the effects of a strength training rehabilitation program. Each participant exercised under full supervision three days per week at UAB.
The Effects of a High Intensity Exercise Training Program in Patients With Parkinson's Disease
The purpose of this randomized, controlled interventional study was to determine the effects of a high intensity exercise training program on objective sleep measures, daytime sleepiness, mobility, and brain health/functional connectivity in patients with Parkinson's disease. Study Groups: All participants in this study were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the exercise group or a sleep hygiene group. All participants received a free membership to The Lakeshore Foundation for the second half of the study. Total Study Duration: 34 weeks Study Visits: Participation in the study involved a screening visit and three sets of study assessments, each of which involved 3-4 study visits to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). The sets of study assessments occured at the beginning of the study, at week 18, and at week 34.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02593955
Simulated-altitude to Optimize Aerobic Exercise among Breast Cancer Survivors with Limited Mobility
Are you a breast cancer survivor having difficulty walking? Do you have any lower-body pain that is restricting your mobility? If so, you may be interested in taking part in an exercise training intervention. UAB researchers are currently looking for overweight women with a history of breast cancer to participate in a novel exercise training study. Volunteers will be asked to attend two assessment sessions, before and after 8 weeks of supervised exercise training, to collect information concerning your health status. Volunteers must be 18-70 years of age with a body mass index between 30-45 kg/m2. Further eligibility screening will be conducted by telephone for those interested. Volunteers must reside in or near Jefferson County, Alabama. The goal of the study is to evaluate a novel exercise training strategy designed to mimic exercise at higher altitude to support improved health and mobility among breast cancer survivors.
Scale Up Evaluation of a Physical Activity Program for Adults with Physical Disability
The study uses a theory-driven eHealth platform and innovative PA program referred to as movement-to-music (M2M) to deliver a customized, home-based PA intervention for adults with physical disability. Participants will be recruited through a large physical medicine and rehabilitation network of clinics specializing in treating patients with physical disability. Clinicians and their patients will be cluster randomized to one of three groups: a) M2M; b) M2M plus social networking (M2Mplus); and c) attention control (AC). Participants will be followed for 48 weeks to obtain objective measures on physical activity, fitness and self-reported measures on health at four time points. Participant physicians will receive information on their patients’ progress (i.e., adherence and outcomes) across the 48-week study period. The study will compare the effectiveness of M2M and M2Mplus in increasing physical activity and adherence compared to the AC group, estimate the improvements in health of M2M and M2Mplus compared to the AC group, and examine the mediators and moderators of the hypothesized treatment effect to understand for whom and how the intervention is effective.
Principal Investigator: James Rimmer, PhD; Co-Investigator: Amie McLain, MD
Effects of Exercise on Memory Deficits and Brain Network Connectivity in Patients with Epilepsy
The objective of this pilot study is to investigate the effects of a 6-week structured exercise program on memory function and associated brain network connectivity in persons with epilepsy (PWE). Despite the benefits of physical exercise on cardiovascular and psychological health, and its potential to improve seizure control and overall quality of life in PWE, patients are often cautioned against vigorous exercise. Only a few studies of supervised exercise in PWE have been conducted, and these have mainly investigated the influence of exercise on seizure frequency. There is a paucity of studies investigating the effects of physical exercise on cognition in PWE. Memory impairment is a frequently reported cognitive problem by PWE and is a common factor contributing to poor quality of life in PWE. Successful completion of this project will provide preliminary data to inform the development of future research applying exercise to help improve cognitive abilities in PWE. Support for this project is provided by the UAB Faculty Development Grant Program, the UAB Epilepsy Center, the Civitan International Research Center, and the UAB Center for Exercise Medicine Research Acceleration Program.
Research Team: Jane B. Allendorfer, PhD (PI), Marcas M. Bamman, PhD, Lawrence W. VerHoef, MD, Jerzy P. Szaflarski, MD, PhD, Roy Martin, PhD.
Exercise Intervention to Improve Functional Capacity in Older Adults with HIV
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of a 16-week resistance and interval intensity training program for older adults with HIV on mitochondrial function and frailty risk. Participants will be HIV+ men and women between the ages of 55 and 85. Study Visits: Participants will complete one screening visit at the beginning of the study and one follow-up visit at week 16. There will be three visits each week for exercise training at the UAB Center for Exercise Medicine over the 16-week training period. Support for this project is provided by the UAB Center for Exercise Medicine and the CCTS.
Research Team: Mandy Willig, PhD, RD, Turner Overton, MD, Marcas Bamman, PhD, Victor Darley-Usmar, PhD
Enhancing Physical Activity Adherence after Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Randomized Trial (BEAT Study)
The purpose of the study is to compare the effects of a walking program on long term exercise adherence and on changes in health related outcomes after breast cancer diagnosis. Volunteers will be asked to attend four fitness assessments within a year and may be asked to attend twelve supervised exercise sessions and six group sessions within a 3-month period. You will also have your metabolism measured through two techniques. No medications or treatments other than exercise will be given as part of the study. All individual exercise sessions will be supervised by trained exercise specialists. We hope the study results help us to better understand breast cancer and benefit patients with this disease in the future.
BEAT Study Team: PI: Laura Rogers, MD MPH (UAB), Co-Investigators: Philip Anton, PhD (SIUC), Edward McAuley, PhD (Illinois), Kerry Courneya, PhD (University of Alberta), Patricia Hopkins-Price, PhD (SIUSOM), Robert Mocharnuk, MD (SIUSOM), Steve Verhulst, PhD (SIUSOM), Sandra Vicari, PhD (SIUSOM), Robert Oster, PhD (UAB)
Healthy Eating Activity Rest Together (HEART) Matters
The HEART Matters Program is a way to promote healthy behaviors among Black men. Through funding from a MHRC grant, the program offers health coaching from Dr. Larrell Wilkinson to Black men ages 24-64 who are overweight or obese and have a desire to become healthier. The program aims to promote a more active lifestyle, a healthier diet, stress management and resting among Black men. The grant also allows for the training of men to become leaders in their peer groups to help other men become healthier. The health coaching approach used embraces a philosophy of placing the individual first and weight management second. The hope of the HEART Matters Program is to unite African American men in solidarity to help one another improve their health, their quality of life, and take the lead on health issues in their families.
HEART Matters Team: PIs: Larrell Wilkinson, PhD, Eric Plaisance, PhD
MARS - Machines Assisting Recovery from Stroke: Robotic Activity Mobility Center in a Fitness Center for People with Neurologic Disability
This study, funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), compares walking outcomes associated with two different training programs in people who have experienced a stroke. The two training programs are each a 10 week intensive treadmill training program with 5 different exercise regimens. Both forms of training make use of a robotic device called the KAMX. The KAMX is a robotic device that allows full freedom of motion for the body and pelvis during walking and balance tasks, and also helps to control posture to enhance balance and stability. Dr. David A. Brown, Professor of Rehabilitation Science and his team are currently recruiting individuals who have experienced a stroke and who have difficulty with walking and balance. For more information contact the UAB LocoLab.