ACES Trial 

Antihypertensives Combined with Exercise for Seniors with Hypertension

The purpose of this project is to conduct a randomized, controlled trial (RCT) to determine if choice of antihypertensive medication influences changes in functional status and other cardiovascular risk factors among older persons with hypertension. Sedentary men and women > 60 years of age with functional limitations and hypertension will be recruited from two sites to participate in a longitudinal intervention trial. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three first-line antihypertensive agents and participate in a structured aerobic exercise intervention. This study is expected to differentiate beneficial effects of three FDA-approved antihypertensive medications on established and emeriging cardiovascular risk factors in a clinically-relevant population.

Funding: NIH R01AG056769
Principal Investigators: Thomas Buford, PhD; Wendy Kohrt, PhD
Institutions: UAB and University of Colorado
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: Pending

MASTERS Trial

Strength exercise training is the most effective intervention identified to combat loss of muscle function with advancing age; however, the response to exercise is blunted and highly variable in older adults. This randomized, placebo-controlled trial – a collaboration between two major academic medical centers (University of Kentucky and University of Alabama at Birmingham) – is designed to determine if the addition of a medication (metformin) will improve the effectiveness of strength training in older adults. The overall goal is to establish a low cost, personalized approach to prevent frailty in the elderly.

Funding: NIH R01AG046920
Principal Investigators: Charlotte Peterson, PhD; Phil Kern, MD; Marcas Bamman, PhD
Institutions: Univ. Kentucky and UAB
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02308228

Overcoming TWEAK Signaling to Restore Muscle and Mobility after Joint Replacement

This randomized clinical trial is designed to test the central hypothesis that progressive resistance training plus adjunctive funcational mobility training after THA/TKA will more effectively restore muscle mass and mobility function to healthy standards than usual care and, because individuals with abnormally high muscle TWEAK signaling are predicted to suffer failed muscle recovery and persistent dismobility under usual care, the impact of the intervention will be greatest among these patients. 

Funding: NIH R01HD084124
Principal Investigators: Marcas Bamman, PhD; Lou Bridges, MD, PhD
Institutions: UAB and UAMS
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02628795

The Effects of a High Intensity Exercise Training Program in Patients With Parkinson's Disease

The purpose of this randomized, controlled interventional study is to determine the effects of a high intensity exercise training program on objective sleep measures, daytime sleepiness, mobility, and brain health/functional connectivity in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Principal Investigator: Amy Willis Amara, MD, PhD
Institutions: UAB and UVA
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02593955