Cognitive Enhancement During Exercise Clinical Trial
Official title:
Effect of Huperzine A on Cognitive Function and Perception of Effort During Exercise
This study evaluates the effects of acute huperzine A ingestion prior to exercise on cognitive function and perceived effort in exercise-trained individuals. Huperzine A has shown the ability to improve cognitive function in dementia patients, and is currently marketed as a cognitive enhancing supplement. Study participants will receive either huperzine A or placebo during the first experimental session, and will receive the other substance during the second session.
Huperzine A improves cognitive function by inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase. This
enzyme is responsible for the degradation of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. inhibition
of acetylcholinesterase may allow for greater availability of acetylcholine, which may allow
for better nerve conduction and therefore enhanced cognitive function and possibly muscular
contraction.
Huperzine A (200 mcg, Swanson®, Fargo, North Dakota) and placebo capsules will be
administered in a single oral dose. The dose of Huperzine A to be used is comparable to
previous research (Xu et al, 2011). Placebo capsules will consist of rice flour. The
participants will ingest the capsules with 250 mL of water 30-45 minutes before exercise is
initiated.
A paired-sample t-test with alpha set to p ≤ 0.05 for statistical significance will be used
to analyze the data. Outcomes measured during the first and second experimental sessions will
be compared to each other. The participants will be compared to themselves during previous
sessions, so a paired sample t-test will be used to calculate the difference between the
sessions. Data will be presented as means ± SE. Data analyses will be performed with
Microsoft Excel; and other analyses may be performed as needed to gain further insights about
the data.
A statistical power analysis was performed (G*Power software, version 3.1.5, University of
Kiel, University of Dusseldorf, and University of Mannheim, 157 Germany) based on the
following inputs: two-tailed paired t-test, alpha=0.05, desired power=0.80, sample size=15
subjects. The results indicated that a standardized effect size of 0.78 (i.e. large effect)
will be detectable. As many as 20 subjects will be recruited and enrolled to ensure that
complete data on 15 subjects are available in the event of screen fails and dropouts.
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