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Purpose

The purpose of this study is to use a non-invasive imaging technique called positron emission tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (PET/MRI) to investigate the effects of exercise on brain activity and arterial (blood vessel) inflammation in people with PTSD symptoms and evidence of or elevated risk for artery disease.

Conditions

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 18 Years and 65 Years
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • Age 18-65 years - Trauma exposure - PTSD symptoms - Subclinical atherosclerotic CVD (e.g., coronary, cerebrovascular, or peripheral arterial plaque or calcifications on imaging), clinical atherosclerotic CVD (e.g., myocardial infarction or revascularization), or increased risk for atherosclerotic CVD (i.e., >2 of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and active smoking) - Ability to understand and sign informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

  • History of stroke, brain surgery, or seizure - Use of certain CVD medications (e.g., beta-blockers, high-intensity statins [e.g., rosuvastatin 20/40 mg and atorvastatin 40/80 mg], PCSK-9 inhibitors) - Psychiatric or cardiovascular medication change within 4 weeks (i.e., stable regimen is allowed) - Unstable blood pressure or cardiac arrhythmia - Currently in a supervised or graduated exercise program - Neurological or systemic inflammatory disease/current systemic anti-inflammatory therapy - Moderate/severe alcohol/substance use disorder - Current mania/psychosis - Weight >300 lbs. - Claustrophobia - Pregnancy - Metal implants - Uncontrolled hyperglycemia (HgbA1c>7.5%) - Subjects who have had significant radiation exposure as part of research (>2 nuclear tests, computed tomography images, or fluoroscopic procedures) during the preceding 12-months

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
N/A
Intervention Model
Single Group Assignment
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
None (Open Label)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Other
Exercise
  • Behavioral: Exercise
    The exercise program will consist of specifically designed activities to place a gradually increasing workload on the cardiovascular system.

Recruiting Locations

Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston 4930956, Massachusetts 6254926 02114
Contact:
Antonia Seligowski, PhD
617-643-0954
aseligowski@mgh.harvard.edu

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
Massachusetts General Hospital

Study Contact

Antonia Seligowski, PhD
617-643-0954
aseligowski@mgh.harvard.edu

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.