The Impact of Exercise on Irisin-BDNF Regulation in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Condition(s) studied

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Supervised Aerobic Exercise: Participants will receive a 4-week supervised treadmill aerobic exercise program, performed 3-5 times per week for approximately 45-60 minutes per session. Exercise intensity will be individualized based on cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET)-derived parameters and progressively adjusted during the intervention. Each session will include warm-up, aerobic exercise, and cool-down periods.

Sleep Hygiene Education: Participants will receive a 20-30-minute sleep education session covering basic information about obstructive sleep apnea, common symptoms, treatment options, and sleep hygiene principles. Participants will be instructed to practice the recommended sleep hygiene strategies at home during the 4-week study period.

Study summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether aerobic exercise can improve sleep and nervous system regulation in adults with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The study will also examine whether exercise changes blood markers related to inflammation and brain health.

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

1. Does four weeks of aerobic exercise change blood levels of irisin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and markers related to inflammation?
2. Does aerobic exercise improve sleep apnea, heart rate variability, cognitive function, daytime sleepiness, sleep quality, and daily functioning?

Researchers will compare an aerobic exercise group with a sleep education group to determine whether adding regular aerobic exercise provides additional benefits for people with mild to moderate OSA.

Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups.

Participants in the aerobic exercise group will:

1. Receive sleep education.
2. Complete four weeks of supervised treadmill exercise, three to five times per week. Each session will last about 45 to 60 minutes. Exercise intensity will be adjusted to each participant's heart rate and physical condition.

Participants in the comparison group will:

1. Receive sleep education about OSA, common symptoms, treatment options, and healthy sleep habits.
2. Practice the recommended healthy sleep habits at home during the four-week study period.

Participants in both groups will complete assessments before and after the four-week study period. These assessments will include an overnight sleep study, blood tests, heart rate measurements, cognitive tests, and questionnaires about daytime sleepiness, sleep quality, and daily functioning.

Eligibility

Primary outcome measure(s)

• Change in Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) — Baseline and Week 4
  Description: The apnea-hypopnea index will be obtained from the overnight Polysomnography (PSG) study. PSG will be performed in the sleep center of National Cheng Kung University Hospital. Less than 5 events/hour indicates normal; AHI between 5-14 events/hour indicates mild obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); AHI between 15-30 events/hour indicates moderate OSA; and AHI more than 30 events/hour indicates severe OSA.
• Change in Oxygen Desaturation Index (ODI) — Baseline and Week 4
  The oxygen desaturation index (ODI) will be assessed using overnight polysomnography and will be used to evaluate changes in the frequency of nocturnal oxygen desaturation events following the intervention.
• Change in Irisin Level — Baseline and Week 4
  Blood irisin levels will be measured before and after the intervention using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to evaluate exercise-related changes in circulating irisin.
• Change in Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Level — Baseline and Week 4
  Blood BDNF levels will be measured before and after the intervention using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to evaluate changes in BDNF associated with aerobic exercise.

Trial sites (1)

More National Cheng-Kung University Hospital trials in Taiwan

Other trials for the same condition