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Aerobic Exercise for Optimizing Cognitive and Brain Health In Remitted Late-Life Depression

Award Number: K23MH125074
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/14/2020
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2026

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Aerobic Exercise for Optimizing Cognitive and Brain Health In Remitted Late-Life Depression - ABSTRACT Late-life depression (LLD) increases risk for numerous poor health outcomes in aging, including medical multi-morbidities, disability, and mortality. Importantly, LLD also doubles the risk for dementia relative to the general aging population. Impairment in select cognitive domains (i.e., executive function) persists even after remission of depressive symptoms in LLD. Lifestyle modification is currently the most promising non- pharmacological approach for attenuating cognitive decline in aging and preventing dementia, yet has not been used to target cognitive impairment in remitted LLD (rLLD). Aerobic exercise (AE) is a lifestyle factor that enhances cognitive functioning, with pronounced benefits for executive functioning. AE also influences neuroimaging markers of brain health in regions and networks critical for executive and memory function (i.e., prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, default-mode network). Critically, AE targets cognitive domains and brain regions and networks showing the greatest and most persistent abnormalities in LLD. The goal of the proposed study is to conduct a methodologically rigorous AE trial using comprehensive neuroimaging and neuropsychological approaches to assess the potential of AE training to 1) target systemic brain abnormalities and 2) cognitive deficits; and 3) to explore the extent to which AE effects on neuroimaging markers of brain health relate to its cognitive benefits in those with rLLD. In accordance with the NIMH Experimental Therapeutics approach, this project proposes a 6-month randomized controlled trial comparing moderate-intensity AE to a social engagement (SE) comparison condition, to examine the extent to which AE training influences structural and functional systemic brain abnormalities observed in those with rLLD. The secondary study aim is to examine the direct effect of AE training on cognitive function in those with rLLD. I will also explore the relationship between AE-related brain changes and cognitive improvements to probe neural mechanisms of AE effects on cognition in those with rLLD. The training provided through this award will include 1) building expertise in conducting laboratory- and home-based explanatory exercise interventions in geriatric psychiatric populations; and learning 2) advanced 7T neuroimaging data analytic methods and 3) longitudinal statistical analytic methods. In summary, this K23 study is the first step toward exploring biological mechanisms of the cognitive remediating effects of AE in those with rLLD using an experimental therapeutics approach. The results of this study will provide the necessary preliminary data to support the PI in her efforts to become an independent clinical translational investigator in geriatric behavioral health.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $146,830 )
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	4200 FIFTH AVENUE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15260	ALLEGHENY	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	5	3/5/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$170,163
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	4200 FIFTH AVENUE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15260	ALLEGHENY	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	002	5	9/12/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2025	2025	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	4200 FIFTH AVENUE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15260	ALLEGHENY	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	5	4/25/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$23,333
														Subtotal = $146,830

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $170,163 )
2024	2024	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH - OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION	4200 FIFTH AVENUE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15260	ALLEGHENY	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	4	11/15/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$170,163
														Subtotal = $170,163

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $170,163 )
2023	2023	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, THE	4200 5TH AVE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15260	ALLEGHENY	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	3	11/17/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$170,163
														Subtotal = $170,163

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $170,163 )
2022	2022	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, THE	4200 5TH AVE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15260	ALLEGHENY	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	12/9/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$170,163
														Subtotal = $170,163

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $170,740 )
2021	2021	UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH THE	3520 FIFTH AVE	PITTSBURGH	PA	15213	ALLEGHENY	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	12/14/2020	NEW	$170,740
														Subtotal = $170,740

Grand Total All Awards = $828,059

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Aerobic Exercise for Optimizing Cognitive and Brain Health In Remitted Late-Life Depression

Award Number: K23MH125074

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: TRAINING/TRAINEESHIP

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 12/14/2020

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 11/30/2026

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