Investigating the Effects of Exercise on the Cognitive Intraindividual Variability in Older Adults with Chronic Stroke
Description: A stroke occurs every 40 seconds. Stroke is the second leading cause of dementia in older adults, and stroke-associated cognitive impairment leads to disability and poor quality of life. Thus, identifying effective interventions to preserve cognitive health among people with stroke is critical. Exercise is a promising therapy for maintaining the cognitive health of people with stroke. However, the results of these studies have been equivocal. I hypothesize this may be due to the use of traditional cognitive measures that are insensitive to subtle changes in cognitive performance. Evidence suggests intraindividual variability (IIV) is a novel and sensitive measure of cognitive ability, with greater IIV being indicative of poorer cognitive function. Preliminary evidence suggests that exercise can improve IIV; however, the effect of exercise on IIV in people with stroke is unknown. Using data from a randomized controlled trial, my proposal will examine the effects of 6 months of twice-weekly exercise on IIV in comparison to a balance and tone control group in older adults with chronic stroke. My project will provide key insights into the benefits of exercise for the promotion of cognitive health poststroke.
Amount: CA$27,000
Funding type: fellowship
Funder scheme: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships
Start date: 2024-09-01
End date: 2025-08-31
Investigator: Daniel Elesin
Institution: University of British Columbia
Subfield: Rehabilitation
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Funded outputs count: 0
Funder award ID: 197037_1
OpenAlex ID: G4150112153