The ‘ProtEx-MND’ project
Join our study and receive 4 months of free personalised exercise training.
We are seeking participants between 18—80 years old, have been diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease (MND), and would like to understand if exercise can help maintain your functional capacity and muscle and brain health.
Your participation will also help us understand if moderate-intensity exercise is beneficial in slowing down motor neuron degeneration in people living with MND.
In collaboration with Calvary Health Care Bethlehem, Victoria University has received funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to conduct a study entitled: “The neuroprotective potential of exercise in individuals with Motor Neuron Disease – the ProtEx-MND project".
About the project
Despite the known benefits of exercise in improving physical function and quality of life in different clinical populations, exercise is currently not an integral part of the multidisciplinary care of people with MND. This is mainly due to the absence of MND-specific exercise guidelines and the limited evidence surrounding the beneficial effects of exercise in this population.
The aim of this project is to fill this knowledge gap and to understand if exercise can slow neurodegeneration in individuals living with MND, investigating the neuroprotective potential of 16 weeks of carefully prescribed exercise on their brain, spinal cord, and skeletal muscle.
The findings of this study will help to determine the role of exercise in the care of people living with MND.
This project is led by Dr Alessandra Ferri and Dr Hannah Thomas, supported by a team of investigators who have both research and clinical experience in the fields of exercise physiology, exercise prescription, muscle physiology, neuroimaging, and Motor Neuron Disease to ensure both scientific rigor and participant safety.
Participate in the study
Recruitment for this study has now begun. Male and female participants are welcome.
We are looking for individuals between the ages of 18-80, with a diagnosis of definite or probable MND, to participate in a 16-week intervention of either moderate intensity exercise or continuing usual standard of care, to assess the effect of exercise on the brain, spinal cord, and skeletal muscle.
Benefits of participating
As a research participant you will:
- train in state-of-the-art facilities at our Footscray Park Campus supervised by qualified exercise physiologists
- learn about the specific type and intensity of exercises that are best for you
- be provided with feedback on your performance in various fitness and functional tests (e.g., peak aerobic capacity, strength, and lung function)
- potentially maintain your strength and physical function.
Requirements
Participation in this project will involve your attendance at 11 testing visits (13 visits if you choose to undergo a muscle biopsy) during a 6-month period.
These will include:
- baseline history screening and testing, including an MRI scan and an optional muscle biopsy (3–4 sessions, ~7–7.5 hours total)
- week 4 testing (1 session, ~3 hours total)
- week 8 mid-intervention testing (1 session, ~3 hours total)
- week 12 testing (1 session, ~3 hours total)
- post-intervention testing (3-4 sessions, ~7–7.5 hours total).
In addition, 8 weeks after the post-intervention testing has been completed, you will be asked to perform follow-up testing (2 sessions; ~4.5 hours total).
You will also be allocated by chance into one of the following groups:
- exercise training intervention (3 sessions per week for 16 weeks; ~48 hours total)
- continuing your usual lifestyle (16 weeks) followed by an optional exercise training intervention (3 sessions/week for 12 weeks; ~36 hours total).