Childhood Trauma, Exercise, and Cognition Study

This study is looking at how different types of exercise affect memory and thinking skills in adults aged 40-60 who experienced abuse or neglect as children and have concerns about their memory or attention. Researchers want to see if Moderate Intensity Exercise (cycling at 70-75% maximum heart rate) or a Placebo - Light Intensity Exercise (cycling at 40-50% maximum heart rate) can improve these cognitive abilities. Success will be measured by changes in memory, attention, and processing speed tests. The study plans to enroll 34 participants, but its current status is unclear.

Study design: This is an interventional study with an unclear status, planning to enroll 34 participants. It compares different exercise interventions.
What's involved: You would participate for up to 78 days, including initial assessments, two acute exercise sessions in a lab, and a 9-week period of moderate-intensity exercise or usual activity outside the lab with regular check-ins.
Compensation: Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up: Cognitive performance will be measured at baseline, after acute exercise conditions on day 8 and day 15, and at three-week intervals during the 9-week intervention.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

Childhood Trauma, Exercise, and Cognition

Recruiting

NAAges 40–60Interventional

University of Texas at Austin

~34 participants

Updated 2026-07-17 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What's tested:Moderate Intensity Exercise (one day)Placebo - Light Intensity Exercise (one day)Moderate Intensity Exercise (9 wks)Day 1 AssessmentsSymptom Measures and Neuropsychological TestsDay 36 Assessments

At a glance

Recruiting sites

1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now

RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open

What they're measuring

Change in performance (i.e., raw score of number of words recalled, in whole numbers) on the Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales for Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L) from baseline will be compared within subjects.

Measured over one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline), after acute exercise condition on day 8, and after acute exercise condition on day 15.

+26 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Adverse Childhood Experiences

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states

Texas1

Study leadership

Erin Logue, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Texas at Austin

Who to contact

Erin Logue

[email protected]

512-954-5510

Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

Do you actually qualify for this trial?

Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.

Check eligibility for this trial ~2 min · HIPAA-protected · delete anytime

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

between 40 and 60 years of age

history of child abuse or neglect

have a complaint about memory, attention, or executive function

native or fluent English speaker

normal or corrected to normal vision and hearing

medically healthy

Exclusion

Score indicating a history of moderate-intensity activity, hard-intensity activity, or very-hard intensity activity on the Stanford Brief Activity Survey

current excessive alcohol or other substance use

eating disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, or those judged to be an immediate suicide risk based on having an active plan with intent

autism spectrum disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or other neurodevelopmental disorder

neurocognitive disorder, or illnesses or history of neurological events known to cause neurocognitive disorders (e.g., traumatic brain injury, status epilepticus, stroke)

reported chest pain or dizziness during exercise; any endorsed and not controlled medical condition that could make exercise contraindicated, including hypertension; heart disease; heart failure; hear rhythm disorders; heart valve disease; metabolic conditions; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; pulmonary hypertension; cystic fibrosis; asthma; and bone, joint, or soft tissue problems

pregnancy, major medical disorders such as cancer, or any other condition believed to put a participant at risk

What this trial measures

Change in performance (i.e., raw score of number of words recalled, in whole numbers) on the Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales for Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L) from baseline will be compared within subjects.one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline), after acute exercise condition on day 8, and after acute exercise condition on day 15.
The Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales for Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L) is a reliable, well-validated measure of verbal learning and memory. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 15. Higher scores indicate better memory.
Change in performance (i.e., raw score of total correct, in whole numbers) on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) Digit Span test from baseline will be compared within subjects.one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline), after acute exercise condition on day 8, and after acute exercise condition on day 15
The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) Digit Span test is a reliable, well-validated measure of auditory attention and working memory. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 48. Higher scores indicate better attention.
Change in performance (i.e., raw scores of time to complete task, in seconds) on the Trail Making Test (TMT) from baseline will be compared within subjects.exercise condition on day 8, and after acute exercise condition on day 15
The Trail Making Test (TMT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of visual attention, processing speed, and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 1, and the highest score is 300. Lower scores indicate better executive function.
Change in performance (i.e., raw scores of time to complete task, in seconds) on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) from baseline will be compared within subjects.one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline), after acute exercise condition on day 8, and after acute exercise condition on day 15
The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of visual working memory, processing speed, and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 110. Higher scores indicate faster processing speed.
Change in performance (i.e., raw score of total correct, in whole numbers) on the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) from baseline will be compared within subjects.one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline), after acute exercise condition on day 8, and after acute exercise condition on day 15
The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of auditory working memory, processing speed, and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 60. Higher scores indicate better working memory.
Change in performance (i.e., raw scores of total words generated, in whole numbers) on the Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) from baseline will be compared within subjects.one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline), after acute exercise condition on day 8, and after acute exercise condition on day 15
The Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of language and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 180. Higher scores indicate better ability to generate words given a phonemic cue.
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw score of number of words recalled, in whole numbers) on the Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales for Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L) at 3 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 3 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales for Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L) is a reliable, well-validated measure of verbal learning and memory. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 15. Higher scores indicate better memory.
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw score of total correct, in whole numbers) on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) Digit Span test at 3 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 3 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) Digit Span test is a reliable, well-validated measure of auditory attention and working memory. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 48. Higher scores indicate better attention.
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw scores of time to complete task, in seconds) on the Trail Making Test (TMT) at 3 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 3 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Trail Making Test (TMT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of visual attention, processing speed, and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 1, and the highest score is 300. Lower scores indicate better executive function.
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw scores of time to complete task, in seconds) on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) at 3 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 3 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of visual working memory, processing speed, and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 110. Higher scores indicate faster processing speed.
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw score of total correct, in whole numbers) on the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) at 3 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 3 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of auditory working memory, processing speed, and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 60. Higher scores indicate better working memory.
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw scores of total words generated, in whole numbers) on the Controlled Oral Word Association Tet (COWAT) at 3 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 3 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of language and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 180. Higher scores indicate better ability to generate words given a phonemic cue.
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw score of number of words recalled, in whole numbers) on the Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales for Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L) at 6 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 6 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales for Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L) is a reliable, well-validated measure of verbal learning and memory. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 15. Higher scores indicate better memory.
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw score of total correct, in whole numbers) on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) Digit Span test at 6 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 6 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) Digit Span test is a reliable, well-validated measure of auditory attention and working memory. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 48. Higher scores indicate better attention.
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw scores of time to complete task, in seconds) on the Trail Making Test (TMT) at 6 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 6 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Trail Making Test (TMT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of visual attention, processing speed, and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 1, and the highest score is 300. Lower scores indicate better executive function.
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw scores of time to complete task, in seconds) on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) at 6 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 6 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of visual working memory, processing speed, and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 110. Higher scores indicate faster processing speed.
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw score of total correct, in whole numbers) on the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) at 6 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 6 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of auditory working memory, processing speed, and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 60. Higher scores indicate better working memory.
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw scores of total words generated, in whole numbers) on the Controlled Oral Word Association Tet (COWAT) at 6 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 6 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of language and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 180. Higher scores indicate better ability to generate words given a phonemic cue.
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw score of number of words recalled, in whole numbers) on the Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales for Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L) at 9 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 9 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales for Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L) is a reliable, well-validated measure of verbal learning and memory. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 15. Higher scores indicate better memory.
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw score of total correct, in whole numbers) on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) Digit Span test at 9 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 9 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) Digit Span test is a reliable, well-validated measure of auditory attention and working memory. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 48. Higher scores indicate better attention.
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw scores of time to complete task, in seconds) on the Trail Making Test (TMT) at 9 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 9 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Trail Making Test (TMT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of visual attention, processing speed, and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 1, and the highest score is 300. Lower scores indicate better executive function.
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw scores of time to complete task, in seconds) on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) at 9 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 9 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of visual working memory, processing speed, and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 110. Higher scores indicate faster processing speed.
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw score of total correct, in whole numbers) on the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) at 9 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 9 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of auditory working memory, processing speed, and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 60. Higher scores indicate better working memory.
Change from baseline performance (i.e., raw scores of total words generated, in whole numbers) on the Controlled Oral Word Association Tet (COWAT) at 9 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 9 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. The Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT) is a reliable, well-validated measure of language and executive function. The minimum score on this measure is 0, and the highest score is 180. Higher scores indicate better ability to generate words given a phonemic cue.
Change from baseline cognitive complaints (i.e., total number of complaints) at 3 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 3 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. To assess cognitive complaints, an interview by the primary investigator, asking about symptoms of difficulties with attention, thinking speed, language, memory, and executive function.
Change from baseline cognitive complaints (i.e., total number of complaints) at 6 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 6 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. To assess cognitive complaints, an interview by the primary investigator, asking about symptoms of difficulties with attention, thinking speed, language, memory, and executive function.
Change from baseline cognitive complaints (i.e., total number of complaints) at 9 weeks post-chronic exercise intervention.one week before first acute exercise condition (baseline) and after 9 weeks of the chronic exercise condition or activity as usual
Assessed between participants assigned to 9-week intervention and those assigned to activity as usual. To assess cognitive complaints, an interview by the primary investigator, asking about symptoms of difficulties with attention, thinking speed, language, memory, and executive function.

Trialytics