Aphasia Physical EXercise Study

This study is looking at how a special high-intensity exercise program, called Aphasia Physical EXercise (APEX), affects recovery in people who have aphasia (difficulty with language) after a stroke. The APEX program is designed to improve physical fitness, thinking skills, and language. We're comparing it to a low-intensity exercise program, which is similar to standard care. The main goal is to see if the high-intensity exercise leads to better physical health, language, thinking, and motor recovery. You might be able to join if you are between 18 and 80 years old, had a stroke at least 6 months ago, have aphasia, and can walk independently. The study is currently recruiting 120 participants, but its exact status is unclear.

Study design
This is an interventional study comparing a high-intensity exercise program (APEX) to a low-intensity exercise program. It plans to enroll 120 participants.
What's involved
You would participate in an exercise program. Your language abilities will be measured at the start, before treatment, after treatment, and 3 months later.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for 3 months after the exercise program ends.

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

NCT07281313

Aphasia Physical EXercise Study: Randomized Trial

Recruiting
NAAges 18–80InterventionalTreatment
University of California, Berkeley
~120 participants
Updated 2026-03-19 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:High-intensity physical exerciseLow-intensity physical exercise

At a glance

Recruiting sites
4 of 4 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change on the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) - Aphasia Quotient
Measured over (T1) Baseline: at the start of the study; (T2) Pre-treatment: 1 week prior to the start of the intervention; (T3) Post-treatment: the week immediately following the intervention; (T4) Follow-up: 3 months after the conclusion of the intervention.
Aphasia, Acquired
Aphasia
Aphasia, Fluent
Aphasia, Non-fluent
Aphasia Following Cerebral Infarction
Aphasia Following Nontraumatic Intracerebral Hemorrhage

NCT07281313

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 4 sites. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • California State University, East Bay

    Hayward, Californiastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

  • University of California, Berkeley

    Berkeley, Californiastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

  • University of California, San Francisco

    San Francisco, Californiastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

  • University of San Francisco

    San Francisco, Californiastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

  • Maria Ivanova, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of California, Berkeley

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Aphasia following ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke
Aphasia as determined by a standardized language test (Western Aphasia Battery Aphasia Quotient \< 93.8 at study intake)
At least 6 months from the last stroke
Proficient in English before the stroke
At least 8 years of education
Between the ages of 18 and 80
Independent with ambulation without a device (single-point cane accepted)
Medically stable with no contraindications to participate in regular physical exercise as determined by the patients' own primary care provider or other treating provider.

Exclusion

Prior history of dementia, neurologic illness (other than stroke), or recent (last 3 years) substance abuse
Significant visual or hearing disabilities (e.g., neglect, uncorrected visual or hearing loss) that interfere with testing
Self-report uncontrolled cardiorespiratory and/or metabolic disorders incompatible with exercise
  • Change on the Western Aphasia Battery (WAB) - Aphasia Quotient(T1) Baseline: at the start of the study; (T2) Pre-treatment: 1 week prior to the start of the intervention; (T3) Post-treatment: the week immediately following the intervention; (T4) Follow-up: 3 months after the conclusion of the intervention.

    The Aphasia Quotient from the Western Aphasia Battery (a standardized language test) measures overall severity of language impairment in aphasia and ranges from 0 to 100, with lower scores indicative of more severe aphasia.