Exercise in Perimenopause to Improve Cognitive Health

Perimenopause is now considered a possible risk factor for dementia and may contribute to the fact that 2/3 of those living with Alzheimer's disease are females. Indeed, research studies show that middle-aged females demonstrate significant declines in their thinking abilities and detrimental changes in their brains as they go through perimenopause. Thus, perimenopausal females need strategies to bolster their brain health. The World Health Organization strongly recommends physical activity interventions to reduce the risk of decline in thinking abilities. However, whether exercise can improve thinking abilities and brain health in perimenopausal females has not been examined. Our research aims to address this important knowledge gap in female brain health. We will study the effects of a 6-month resistance exercise training (e.g., lifting free weights, exercise with weight machine) program on thinking abilities in 50 physically inactive perimenopausal females, aged 40 to 55 years, who are experiencing difficulties with their thinking abilities. In addition to measuring thinking abilities, we will determine if exercise benefits muscle health, heart health, sleep quality, psychological well-being, menopausal symptoms, and quality of life. We will also explore how resistance exercise training improves thinking abilities as such information can lead to new discoveries and therapies for brain health in females.

NCT Number	NCT07272174
Lead Sponsor	University of British Columbia Collaborators: Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute
Conditions	Perimenopause, Subjective Cognitive Complaints
Enrollment	50 participants
Start Date	2026-03-30
Primary Completion	2026-12-15 (estimated)
Study Completion	2027-01-30 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-04-16