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Neuromuscular Recruitment in Trained and Untrained Adults

This observational study is looking at how the nervous system controls muscles in adults aged 60 to 85. Researchers want to compare people who exercise regularly with those who don't. You might be eligible if you are between 60 and 85 years old, have a BMI between 18.5 and 38, and either exercise at least 5 days a week for 30 minutes or less than 2 days a week for less than 30 minutes. The study uses tests like Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to measure brain activity related to muscle movement and Electromyography (EMG) to record muscle responses. The main goal is to see how EMG responses change after TMS stimulation over 21 days. The current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This is an observational study comparing 20-40 highly resistance-trained people with 20-40 untrained people, matched for age, sex, and BMI. The study does not specify a phase.
What's involved
You would complete 5 study visits. These visits include blood tests, body composition measurements (DEXA), meal tolerance tests, a VO2max test, muscle strength tests, an MRI of the brain, and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) with Electromyography (EMG).
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Electromyography (EMG) responses will be measured following Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) at 21 days.

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NCT06820658

A Comparison of Neuromuscular Recruitment in Trained and Untrained Adults

Recruiting
Not specifiedAges 60–85Observational
Mayo Clinic
~80 participants
Updated 2026-08-05 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Neuromuscular TestDEXAMixed Meal Tolerance TestStrength Test

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Electromyography (EMG) response following Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
Measured over 21 days

Conditions

Healthy
Insulin Resistance

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Insulin Resistance

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Minnesota1

Study leadership

  • K. S. Nair, M.D., Ph.D. · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Mayo Clinic

Who to contact

Emmett Oldham
[email protected]
507-538-7772
Email the study team

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Participant must have a BMI between 18.5 and 38
Participant be aged between 60 and 85
Regularly exercises at least 5 days a week a minimum of 30 minutes per day.
Engages in less than 2 days of exercise less than 30 minutes each day.
Participant must use the Mayo Clinic patient online portal.
Participant must be able to understand English without the need of an interpreter.
Must be willing to be contacted for research
Participant must be willing and capable to provide consent.
Participants shall be generally healthy as deemed acceptable by the principal investigator
Men and women will be participant in this study. Women cannot be pregnant during this study.

Exclusion

Surgical History - Gastric surgery, pacemaker placement, weight loss surgery, metabolic and obstetric surgery.
Smokers will be excluded from the study.
Medications: Insulins, common diabetic drugs, anti-hyperglycemic drugs, beta blockers cardiac selective, beta-blockers noncardiac selective, oral steroids, opioids anti-depressants, and hormones
Conidiations and Diagnosis: Disorder of coronary artery, hepatic failure, gastroparesis, disorder of the adrenal gland, drug related disorders, substance abuse, malignant neoplastic disease, psychotic disorders, disorder of skeletal muscle, finding of brain, chronic kidney disease, renal failure syndrome, disorder of pulmonary circulation, cerebrovascular disease, neuro developmental disorder, disorder of immune function, disorder of central nervous system.
Participants are not to have an abnormal value as part of a lipid panel within the past 6 months.
Participant will be excluded if they have recreational drug use or a history of alcohol abuse
Inability or unwillingness of individual or legal guardian/representative to give written informed consent.
Current or past participation within a specified timeframe in another clinical trial, as warranted by the administration of this intervention.
Participant will be excluded if they have epilepsy.
Participant will be excluded if they have cranial metal/device implants
Participant will be excluded if they are pregnant

What this trial measures

  • Electromyography (EMG) response following Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)21 days

    To assess connectivity between the nervous system and skeletal muscle, we will use transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) coupled with electromyography (EMG). TMS uses a magnetic field to carry a short-lasting electrical current pulse into the brain where it stimulates neurons, particularly in superficial regions of cerebral cortex, and neural activities can be measured at different levels along the motor pathways (predominantly the CST). When combined with EMG, this approach will allow us to quantify changes in muscular activity after stimulating the CST and other descending tracts and to assess the neuromuscular connectivity. EMG assess the health of muscles and the nerve cells that control them (motor neurons). EMG results can reveal nerve dysfunction, muscle dysfunction or problems with nerve-to-muscle signal transmission. Motor neurons transmit electrical signals that cause muscles to contract. Electrodes will then translate signals into graphs, sounds or numerical values.