Researchers at Kessler Foundation have published a new clinical protocol that examines the combination of aerobic exercise and cognitive rehabilitation to improve learning and memory in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have mobility disabilities.

“This trial represents a significant advancement in our understanding of how combined interventions can improve cognitive outcomes for individuals with MS,” stated Dr. Wender, the lead author of the study and a research scientist at the Centers for Multiple Sclerosis Research and Neuropsychology and Neuroscience Research at the Foundation. “By targeting the hippocampus using both cognitive and physical stimuli, we aim to offer more effective treatment options for individuals experiencing significant cognitive challenges due to MS,” she added. “The combination of exercise and cognitive rehabilitation has the potential to create synergistic effects, especially in individuals with advanced disease progression,” she concluded.

The article outlines the protocol for a Phase I/II, parallel-group, single-blind randomized controlled trial involving 78 participants with MS and mobility disability. The trial, called COMBINE (Combination Optimizes Memory Based on Imaging and Neuropsychological Endpoints), randomly assigns participants to either an aerobic cycling exercise with VR combined with KF-mSMT or a control group receiving stretching and toning exercises combined with KF-mSMT. The main outcomes measured include various aspects of new learning and memory, such as list learning, prose memory, and visuospatial memory, as well as neuroimaging outcomes focusing on hippocampal structure and function.