Recruiting

Resistance Exercise Training

Sponsor:

University of British Columbia

Code:

NCT07272174

Conditions

Perimenopause

Subjective Cognitive Complaints

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: Female

Age: 40 - 55

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

Progressive Resistance Training

Balance, Flexibility, and Tone Exercises

Study Details

Brief summary:

Perimenopause is now considered a possible risk factor for dementia and may contribute to the fact that 2/3 of those living with Alzheimer's disease are females. Indeed, research studies show that middle-aged females demonstrate significant declines in their thinking abilities and detrimental changes in their brains as they go through perimenopause. Thus, perimenopausal females need strategies to bolster their brain health.

The World Health Organization strongly recommends physical activity interventions to reduce the risk of decline in thinking abilities. However, whether exercise can improve thinking abilities and brain health in perimenopausal females has not been examined. Our research aims to address this important knowledge gap in female brain health.

We will study the effects of a 6-month resistance exercise training (e.g., lifting free weights, exercise with weight machine) program on thinking abilities in 50 physically inactive perimenopausal females, aged 40 to 55 years, who are experiencing difficulties with their thinking abilities. In addition to measuring thinking abilities, we will determine if exercise benefits muscle health, heart health, sleep quality, psychological well-being, menopausal symptoms, and quality of life. We will also explore how resistance exercise training improves thinking abilities as such information can lead to new discoveries and therapies for brain health in females.

Conditions

Perimenopause

Subjective Cognitive Complaints

Study ID

NCT07272174

Start date

Mar 30, 2026

Status verified date

Apr, 2026

Completion date

Jan 30, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Dec 15, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: Female

Age: 40 - 55

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Are biological females, as assigned at birth
  • Are aged between 40 and 55 years
  • Had at least 1 menstrual period in the last 10 months
  • Are perimenopausal based on STRAW +10 Staging System, or answer "yes" to MQ6 questions of changes in periods, having hot flashes, or vaginal dryness, pain, or sexual concerns
  • Have an intact uterus
  • Have a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score >26/30, indicating normal cognition
  • Have subjective cognitive complaints defined as responding "yes" to "Do you feel like your memory or thinking is becoming worse?"
  • Completed high school education
  • Read and speak English with acceptable visual and auditory acuity
  • Are able to safely engage in moderate-intensity PRT as indicated by the PAR-Q+; and
  • Are able to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Are engaged in regular PRT (i.e., 2x/week) in the prior three months
  • Are diagnosed with cognitive impairment or dementia of any type
  • Are at high risk for cardiac complications during exercise
  • Have clinically important peripheral neuropathy or severe musculoskeletal or joint disease that impairs mobility
  • Are taking medications that negatively affect cognitive function, such as anticholinergics, major tranquilizers, and anticonvulsants
  • Have a BMI <15 or anorexia nervosa; g) had surgical menopause
  • Had endometrial ablation that resulted in the loss of menstruation
  • Have polycystic ovarian syndrome
  • Currently undergoing chemo
  • Are using estrogen-containing contraception in the last 12 months
  • Had premature ovarian failure; or
  • Are already enrolled in a drug or exercise trial

Study Design

Enrollment

50 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Prevention

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Progressive Resistance Training (PRT)

Each PRT session will be 1-hr in duration and consists of a warm-up (10 mins), PRT (45 mins), and cool-down (5 mins). 2x/week and group-based.

active comparator: Balance, Flexibility, and Tone Exercises (BAT)

Each BAT session will be 1-hr in duration. 2x/week and group-based.

Interventions

Progressive Resistance Training

The sessions will occur in the Exercise Prescription Suite of the Centre for Aging SMART at VCH; this suite is a fully-equipped gym that includes treadmills, bikes, pneumatic resistance training equipment, and free weights. The training stimulus will initially be at 3 sets of 10-15 repetitions with proper form. At week 4, training intensity will progress from 60-82% of predicted 1 repetition maximum (RM) using the 8RM method. Every 4 weeks the 8RM test will be repeated.

Balance, Flexibility, and Tone Exercises

Each BAT session will be 1-hr in duration and consist of Pilates mat exercises, Yoga-based poses and breathing, Kegel exercises, stretches, and relaxation techniques (e.g., visualization).

Primary outcome measure

  • Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) [ Time Frame: Baseline, 13 weeks, 26 weeks ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Teresa Liu-Ambrose, PhD

6046178047teresa.ambrose@ubc.ca

Locations

University of British Columbia

Recruiting

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V5Z 1M9

Contacts

Teresa Liu-Ambrose, MHK

604-875-4111teresa.ambrose@ubc.ca

More Information

Sponsor

University of British Columbia

Last update posted

Apr 16, 2026

Last verified

Apr, 2026

Keywords

  • progressive resistance training, perimenopause

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of British Columbia on 2026-04-16.