FIT-ATOMIC Exercise Feasibility Trial
An Exercise Training Intervention for Depressive Symptoms in Youth With MS: A Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial
What it found
A paper reports the results; we have not read it yet. See Papers below.
What was tested
Treatment tested
- Exercise Training
Placebo
- Mobility and Flexibility Training
What it measured
Main measures
Participant accrual rate
From enrollment to the end of study
Fidelity of delivering the intervention
From enrollment to the end of intervention at 20 weeks
Participant drop-out rate
From enrollment to the end of study
Adverse event rate
From enrollment to the end of study
SafetyCompletion rate of study measures
From enrollment to the end of study
Who could take part
Early (CIS/RIS) · 11 to 25
Show the full criteria
Inclusion criteria
* Youth and young adults 11-25 years of age * MS diagnosis or clinically isolated syndrome per revised McDonald diagnostic criteria and International Pediatric MS Study Group Criteria * A score of 10 or above on the CES-DC scale.
Exclusion criteria
* Have non-specific white matter abnormalities and metabolic or infectious etiologies for white matter abnormalities * Do not speak and read English at a level needed to complete the questionnaires (4th grade level) * Have significant motor disability (EDSS ≥4) * Are at increased risk of cardiac or other complications of exercise testing, as determined by the pediatric neurologist or physician
As registered. Criteria can change, so ask the trial team or your neurologist.
About this trial
In the sponsor's words
This multi-center, randomized controlled feasibility trial will assess a 20-week home-based exercise intervention in youth with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The goal is to determine the feasibility of conducting a larger, definitive trial on exercise training as a non-pharmacological approach to improve disease outcomes in this population. Participants will be randomized to either an Exercise Training group or a Mobility and Flexibility Training group. The investigators will evaluate differences between the two groups in physical activity levels, mediators of physical activity, and psychosocial outcomes. Assessments, including clinical exams, brain MRI, eye tracking, cognitive testing, blood draws, and questionnaires, will occur at baseline and after 20 weeks. Accelerometry will be done at baseline, 10 weeks, and 20 weeks to track physical activity. The primary objectives are to assess the feasibility of recruiting, retaining, and randomizing youth with MS and to evaluate adherence to the exercise intervention and coaching sessions. Exploratory objectives include examining changes in depressive symptoms, cognitive function, blood biomarkers (BDNF and irisin), brain volume, and fitness levels in response to the intervention. Approximately 40 participants will be enrolled from four sites in Canada and the United States. Primary outcomes include feasibility, acceptability, and fidelity measures. Exploratory outcomes include blood biomarkers, brain MRI, cognitive testing, and other neuropsychological measures.
Papers
Results
Thompson AJ, Banwell BL, Barkhof F, Carroll WM, Coetzee T, Comi G, Correale J, Fazekas F, Filippi M, Freedman MS, Fujihara K, Galetta SL, Hartung HP, Kappos L, Lublin FD, Marrie RA, Miller AE, Miller DH, Montalban X, Mowry EM, Sorensen PS, Tintore M, Traboulsee AL, Trojano M, Uitdehaag BMJ, Vukusic S, Waubant E, Weinshenker BG, Reingold SC, Cohen JA. Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: 2017 revisionsResults
Polman CH, Reingold SC, Banwell B, Clanet M, Cohen JA, Filippi M, Fujihara K, Havrdova E, Hutchinson M, Kappos L, Lublin FD, Montalban X, O'Connor P, Sandberg-Wollheim M, Thompson AJ, Waubant E, Weinshenker B, Wolinsky JS. Diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis: 2010 revisions to the McDonald criteria. Ann Neurol. 2011 Feb;69(2):292-302. doi: 10.1002/ana.22366.Results
Krupp LB, Banwell B, Tenembaum S; International Pediatric MS Study Group. Consensus definitions proposed for pediatric multiple sclerosis and related disorders. Neurology. 2007 Apr 17;68(16 Suppl 2):S7-12. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000259422.44235.a8.Results
Stephens S, Schneiderman JE, Finlayson M, Berenbaum T, Motl RW, Yeh EA. Feasibility of a theory-informed mobile app for changing physical activity in youth with multiple sclerosis. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2022 Feb;58:103467. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2021.103467. Epub 2021 Dec 20.Results
Motl RW, Backus D, Neal WN, Cutter G, Palmer L, McBurney R, Schmidt H, Bethoux F, Hebert J, Ng A, McCully KK, Plummer P. Rationale and design of the STEP for MS Trial: Comparative effectiveness of Supervised versus Telerehabilitation Exercise Programs for Multiple Sclerosis. Contemp Clin Trials. 2019 Jun;81:110-122. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2019.04.013. Epub 2019 Apr 22.Results
Stephens S, Berenbaum T, Finlayson M, Motl RW, Yeh EA. Youth with multiple sclerosis have low levels of fitness. Mult Scler. 2021 Sep;27(10):1597-1605. doi: 10.1177/1352458520974360. Epub 2020 Nov 27.Results
Bilek F, Cetisli-Korkmaz N, Ercan Z, Deniz G, Demir CF. Aerobic exercise increases irisin serum levels and improves depression and fatigue in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis: A randomized controlled trial. Mult Scler Relat Disord. 2022 May;61:103742. doi: 10.1016/j.msard.2022.103742. Epub 2022 Mar 15.Results
Spalletta G, Piras F, Caltagirone C, Fagioli S. Hippocampal multimodal structural changes and subclinical depression in healthy individuals. J Affect Disord. 2014 Jan;152-154:105-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2013.05.068. Epub 2013 Jun 22.Results
Nabkasorn C, Miyai N, Sootmongkol A, Junprasert S, Yamamoto H, Arita M, Miyashita K. Effects of physical exercise on depression, neuroendocrine stress hormones and physiological fitness in adolescent females with depressive symptoms. Eur J Public Health. 2006 Apr;16(2):179-84. doi: 10.1093/eurpub/cki159. Epub 2005 Aug 26.Results
Wrann CD, White JP, Salogiannnis J, Laznik-Bogoslavski D, Wu J, Ma D, Lin JD, Greenberg ME, Spiegelman BM. Exercise induces hippocampal BDNF through a PGC-1alpha/FNDC5 pathway. Cell Metab. 2013 Nov 5;18(5):649-59. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2013.09.008. Epub 2013 Oct 10.
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History
Started
Jun 2025
Main results due
Sept 2026
Finished
Sept 2026