Abstract
BACKGROUND: Physical exercise (PE) has proven effective in ameliorating cognitive deficits in older adults and select neurological patient populations. This pilot RCT investigates a PE program for improving cognitive deficits in glioma patients. METHODS: Patients with stable grades II/III glioma were randomized 2:1 to a home-based PE group or a control group. Patients in the PE group performed three 20-45 minute sessions per week of self-chosen aerobic exercise for 6 months. Intensity varied from 60 to 85% of maximum heart rate, based on maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). Participants wore heart rate monitors and were supervised by a physical therapist via internet and telephone. Patients in the active control group were advised to walk regularly. Baseline and outcome assessment at 6 months included physical fitness (VO2peak determined by CPET) and cognitive performance (attention, information processing, memory, executive function, determined by neuropsychological assessment), among other measures. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients were included and randomized; 23 to the PE group and 11 to the control group. There were no baseline differences. Patients in the PE group completed on average 78% of the prescribed training sessions. Preliminary analyses indicated an increase of physical fitness of 7.2% in the PE group (n = 18) and a decline of 2.6% in the control group (n = 9; mean difference of change 2.60 ml/kg*min, 95%CI 0.00 to 5.20, p = .05). Concerning cognitive outcomes, favourable mean differences of change scores for the PE group (n = 20 versus controls (n = 11)) were observed on a measure of information processing speed (5.72; −0.45 to 11.89, p = .07), immediate verbal recall (0.76, −0.06 to 1.59, p = .07), and selective attention and working memory (1.53, −0.08 to 3.15; p = .06). Final results will be presented at the conference. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary results in a small sample show the feasibility of the intervention, and suggest that it may lead to cognitive benefits.
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