Examining the Neural Effects of a Behavioral Intervention for Physical Activity in Multiple Sclerosis

University of Alabama at Birmingham24 enrolled

Overview

Multiple sclerosis \[MS\] is a prevalent neurological disease that is the leading cause of irreversible neurological disability among young women and the second leading cause of disability among young men in the United States. This disease results in the progressive loss of walking mobility and substantial worsening of cognition, symptoms, and quality of life over time. There is evidence that physical activity is beneficially associated with aerobic fitness and brain structure and function in persons with MS. Nevertheless, this population is strikingly sedentary and physically inactive. This highlights a vital opportunity to improve aerobic fitness and brain health by developing behavioral interventions that increase physical activity. To that end, this project is a Phase-II randomized control trial for examining the efficacy of a behavioral intervention that is based on social-cognitive theory and delivered through the Internet for increasing physical activity and, secondarily, improving aerobic fitness and brain structure and function in persons with MS.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Multiple Sclerosis

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 45 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * diagnosis of multiple sclerosis * relapse free in the last 30 days * being non-active defined as not engaging in regular activity (30 minutes accumulated per day) on more than 2 days of the week during the previous 6 months * ambulate without assistance * low risk for contraindications for MRI Exclusion Criteria: * moderate or high risk for undertaking strenuous or maximal exercise

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity - Baseline

Activity monitors are Actigraph accelerometers that participants will wear on an elastic belt around their waist for 7 days. These activity monitors measure how frequently and how much an individual moves.

Time frame: Assessment will be conducted before the intervention

Minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity - Post intervention