Improving reading competence in aphasia with combined aerobic exercise and phono-motor treatment: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Aphasia, a communication disorder caused primarily by left-hemisphere stroke, affects millions of individuals worldwide, with up to 70% experiencing significant reading impairments. These deficits negatively impact independence and quality of life, highlighting the need for effective treatments that target the cognitive and neural processes essential to reading recovery. This Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT) aims to test the efficacy of a combined intervention incorporating aerobic exercise training (AET) and phono-motor treatment (PMT) to enhance reading recovery in individuals with post-stroke aphasia.

Heterogeneity of aerobic fitness changes with exercise training in progressive multiple sclerosis: Secondary, exploratory analysis of data from the CogEx trial.

Background: There is heterogeneity of aerobic fitness (VO) changes with a standardized exercise training stimulus in the general population (i.e. some participants demonstrate improvements, others no change, and some a reduction in VO).

Cardiorespiratory fitness and working memory in persons with traumatic brain injury: a cross-sectional analysis.

Introduction: Cognitive impairment is a highly impactful consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and there are limited evidence-based treatment practices to combat these impairments. Evidence from other populations suggest that aerobic exercise training (AET) is beneficial for a variety of cognitive deficits, but the research in persons with TBI to date is equivocal. One potential reason is the heterogeneity of exercise prescriptions and outcome measures.

Attrition, adherence, and compliance to exercise training interventions in persons with traumatic brain injury: a systematic review of training studies.

Background: Exercise training (ET) is a promising rehabilitation approach for long-term negative consequences of traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, little is known regarding overall rates of attrition, adherence, and compliance to ET in TBI.

Objective: The purpose of this systematic review was to estimate average attrition, adherence, and compliance rates in ET studies in persons with TBI.

Associations between fatigue impact and physical and neurobehavioural factors: An exploration in people with progressive multiple sclerosis.

Background: Fatigue is common in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). Understanding the relationship between fatigue, physical and neurobehavioural factors is important to inform future research and practice. Few studies explore this explicitly in people with progressive MS (pwPMS).

Rationale and methodology for examining the combination of aerobic exercise and cognitive rehabilitation on new learning and memory in persons with multiple sclerosis and mobility disability: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: This paper describes the protocol for a Phase I/II, parallel-group, single-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT). The RCT investigates the combined effects of 12-weeks of aerobic exercise training (AET) integrated with virtual reality (VR) and cognitive rehabilitation (CR) on new learning and memory in 78 persons with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have mobility disability and objective impairments in learning and memory.

Methods: Participants will undergo baseline assessments consisting of neuropsychological testing, neuroimaging, self-report questionnaires, and cardiorespiratory fitness.

Cognitive rehabilitation effects on grey matter volume and Go-NoGo activity in progressive multiple sclerosis: results from the CogEx trial.

Background: Research on cognitive rehabilitation (CR) and aerobic exercise (EX) to improve cognition in progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS) remains limited. CogEx trial investigated the effectiveness of CR and EX in PMS: here, we present MRI substudy volumetric and task-related functional MRI (fMRI) findings.

Methods: Participants were randomised to: 'CR plus EX', 'CR plus sham EX (EX-S)', 'EX plus sham CR (CR-S)' and 'CR-S plus EX-S' and attended 12-week intervention.

Focusing on neural mechanisms of exercise training benefits in multiple sclerosis.

Exercise training (ET) should be a mainstay of comprehensive care in multiple sclerosis (MS), yet there is reluctance regarding its implementation among healthcare providers. This reluctance has its roots in the lack of evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that provide a neurobiological mechanism for beneficial outcomes. We argue that ET training is efficacious for improving mobility and cognitive dysfunction as hallmark consequences of MS, and propose an experimental medicine framework for guiding research focusing on CNS mechanisms-of-action for ET benefits.

Randomized Controlled Trial of the Behavioral Intervention for Physical Activity in Multiple Sclerosis Project: Response Heterogeneity and Predictors of Change.

Background: We reported that a social cognitive theory-based (SCT), Internet-delivered behavioral intervention increased device-measured minutes/day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) over a 6-month period among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). This paper examined the pattern and predictors of heterogeneity in change for MVPA. Based on previous research, we hypothesized that mild MS disability, fewer MS symptoms, lower baseline MVPA, and positive SCT characteristics (e.

Internet-delivered lifestyle physical activity intervention for cognitive processing speed in multiple sclerosis.

Background: We propose a randomized controlled trial(RCT) of a Social Cognitive Theory-based(SCT), Internet-delivered behavioral intervention targeting lifestyle physical activity(LPA) for yielding improvements in cognitive processing speed(CPS), learning and memory(L/M), symptoms, and quality of life(QOL) among persons with mild multiple sclerosis(MS)-related ambulatory impairment who have impaired CPS.

Methods/design: The study involves a Phase-II, parallel group, RCT design. Participants with MS(N = 300) will be randomly assigned on an equal basis(1:1) into behavioral intervention(n = 150) or attention and social contact control(n = 150) conditions.

Free-living ambulatory physical activity and cognitive function in multiple sclerosis: the significance of step rate vs. step volume.

Background: Physical activity (PA) represents a promising behavioral approach for managing cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, there is a lack of information on the pattern of free-living PA intensity (e.g.

Evaluating the effects of brain injury, disease and tasks on cognitive fatigue.

Because cognitive fatigue (CF) is common and debilitating following brain injury or disease we investigated the relationships among CF, behavioral performance, and cerebral activation within and across populations by combining the data from two cross-sectional studies. Individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) were included to model CF resulting from neurological disease; individuals who had sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) were included to model CF resulting from neurological insult; both groups were compared with a control group (Controls). CF was induced while neuroimaging data was acquired using two different tasks.

The MoxFo initiative - outcomes: Outcome measures in studies of exercise training in multiple sclerosis; scoping review of reviews and classification according to the ICF framework.

Background: The number of published studies of exercise training in multiple sclerosis (MS) has grown exponentially with increasing numbers of outcomes capturing exercise effects. This has complicated the selection of relevant indicators and interpretation of intervention effects.

Objectives: The Outcomes subgroup of the MoXFo initiative aimed to (1) identify outcome measures and biomarkers in studies of exercise training in MS; (2) systematically map retrieved outcomes to International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) categories; (3) identify gaps where relevant ICF categories have been omitted.

Exercise as a behavioral approach to improve mood in persons with traumatic brain injury.

Mood disturbance is a common, long-term, negative consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that is insufficiently addressed by most traditional treatment modalities. A large body of evidence supports the efficacy of exercise training (ET) to broadly improve mood, as measured most often by the Profile of Mood States (POMS). However, this behavioral approach is not used nearly enough in the TBI population, and when it is, mood is rarely measured.

Cognitive rehabilitation and aerobic exercise for cognitive impairment in people with progressive multiple sclerosis (CogEx): a randomised, blinded, sham-controlled trial.

Background: Cognitive dysfunction in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis can improve with cognitive rehabilitation or exercise. Similar effects have not been clearly shown in people with progressive multiple sclerosis. We aimed to investigate the individual and synergistic effects of cognitive rehabilitation and exercise in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis.

The effects of cognitive rehabilitation combined with aerobic exercise or stretching-and-toning on new learning and memory in persons with moderate-to-severe TBI: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

This paper describes the protocol for a Phase I/II, parallel-group, blinded randomized controlled trial that compares the effects of 12-weeks of combined learning and memory rehabilitation with either aerobic cycling exercise or stretching on cognitive, neuroimaging, and everyday life outcomes in 60 persons with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) who demonstrate impairments in new learning. Briefly, participants will undergo baseline testing consisting of neuropsychological testing, neuroimaging, daily life measures, and cardiorespiratory fitness. Following baseline testing, participants will be randomized to one of 2 conditions (30 participants per condition) using concealed allocation.

Randomized controlled trial of the behavioral intervention for physical activity in multiple sclerosis project: Social cognitive theory variables as mediators.

Background: We recently reported in a phase-III, randomized controlled trial that a behavioral intervention based on social cognitive theory (SCT) and delivered through the Internet using e-learning approaches increased device-measured minutes/day of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) over a 6-month period among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Objective: This planned tertiary outcome paper examined SCT variables as mediators of the behavioral intervention effect on change in device-measured minutes/day of MVPA.

Method: Persons with MS (N = 318) were randomized into behavioral intervention (n = 159) or attention/social contact control (n = 159) conditions.

Neuroimaging Technology in Exercise Neurorehabilitation Research in Persons with MS: A Scoping Review.

There is increasing interest in the application of neuroimaging technology in exercise neurorehabilitation research among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS). The inclusion and focus on neuroimaging outcomes in MS exercise training research is critical for establishing a biological basis for improvements in functioning and elevating exercise within the neurologist's clinical armamentarium alongside disease modifying therapies as an approach for treating the disease and its consequences. Indeed, the inclusion of selective neuroimaging approaches and sensor-based technology among physical activity, mobility, and balance outcomes in such MS research might further allow for detecting specific links between the brain and real-world behavior.

Feasibility of remotely delivered and supported aerobic walking exercise training for cognitive processing speed impairment in fully-ambulatory persons with multiple sclerosis.

Purpose: The current pilot, single-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT) examined the feasibility of remotely-delivered and supported aerobic walking exercise training compared with an active control condition on cognitive processing speed (CPS) in 19 fully-ambulatory persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) who were pre-screened for impaired CPS.

Methods: Feasibility was assessed in the domains of process (e.g.

Abnormal thalamic functional connectivity correlates with cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity in progressive multiple sclerosis.

Background: Altered thalamic volumes and resting state (RS) functional connectivity (FC) might be associated with physical activity (PA) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) in people with progressive multiple sclerosis (PMS).

Objectives: To assess thalamic structural and functional alterations and investigate their correlations with PA/CRF levels in people with PMS.

Methods: Seven-day accelerometry and cardiopulmonary exercise testing were used to assess PA/CRF levels in 91 persons with PMS.

Profiling cognitive-motor interference in a large sample of persons with progressive multiple sclerosis and impaired processing speed: results from the CogEx study.

Background: Performing cognitive-motor dual tasks (DTs) may result in reduced walking speed and cognitive performance. The effect in persons with progressive multiple sclerosis (pwPMS) having cognitive dysfunction is unknown.

Objective: To profile DT-performance during walking in cognitively impaired pwPMS and examine DT-performance by disability level.

Primary results of a phase-III, randomized controlled trial of the Behavioral Intervention for increasing Physical Activity in Multiple Sclerosis project.

Background: We undertook a phase-III, randomized controlled trial (RCT) that examined the effectiveness of a behavioral intervention based on social cognitive theory (SCT) and delivered through the Internet using e-learning approaches for immediate and sustained increases in physical activity among persons with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Method: The study followed a parallel group RCT design. Persons with MS ( = 318) were randomized into either behavioral intervention ( = 159) or attention/social contact control ( = 159) conditions.

Randomized controlled trial of the behavioral intervention for increasing physical activity in multiple sclerosis project: Secondary, patient-reported outcomes.

Background: We undertook a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that investigated the effectiveness of a theory-based, Internet-delivered, behavioral intervention focusing on physical activity promotion for immediate and sustained improvements in secondary, patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of function, symptoms, and quality of life (QOL) in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Method: Persons with MS (N = 318) were recruited from throughout the United States and randomized into behavioral intervention (n = 159) or attention/social contact control (n = 159) conditions. The conditions were administered over a 6-month period by persons who were uninvolved in screening, recruitment, random assignment, and outcome assessment.