A Multi-level Life-span Characterization of Adult-depression and Effects of Medication and Exercise
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2016-12-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
This pilot study aims to test a model that predicts that enhanced neurotransmitter
gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) function in reward and affect-regulation central nervous
system (CNS) circuits mediates the antidepressant effects of exercise. State-of-the-art
magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, cognitive assessment, accelerometry, genetic, and
inflammatory biomarkers will be acquired through the coordination of efforts from several
established research programs at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic. This pilot study
will be used as a platform for testing a causal/mediating role of GABA interneurons in reward
processing and affect regulation in humans. This pilot study is not powered for testing a
full causal model, but rather is intended to test overall feasibility of the intervention and
acquisition of measures (see specific aim 1 below). This is a necessary prerequisite for
designing a larger more definitive study of the model, which will be a component of a future
grant application. Additionally, the data from this study will be used to test the clinical
efficacy of exercise as an adjunctive treatment for late life depression (LLD; Specific Aim
2), as well as imaging, cognitive, and sleep aims (Specific Aims 3 and 4).