title: A randomised controlled trial of aerobic exercise after transient ischaemic attack or minor stroke to prevent cognitive decline: the MoveIT study protocol.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or stroke are at risk for cognitive impairment and dementia. Currently, there is no known effective strategy to prevent this cognitive decline. Increasing evidence exists that physical exercise is beneficial for cognitive function. However, in patients with TIA or stroke who are at risk of cognitive impairment and dementia, only a few trials have been conducted. In this study, we aim to investigate whether a physical exercise programme (MoveIT) can prevent cognitive decline in patients in the acute phase after a TIA or minor ischaemic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single-blinded randomised controlled trial will be conducted to investigate the effect of an aerobic exercise programme on cognition compared with usual care. 120 adult patients with a TIA or minor ischaemic stroke less than 1 month ago will be randomly allocated to an exercise programme consisting of a 12-week aerobic exercise programme and regular follow-up visits to a specialised physiotherapist during the period of 1 year or to usual care. Outcome measures will be assessed at the baseline, and at the 1-year and 2-year follow-up. The primary outcome is cognitive functioning measured with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test and with additional neuropsychological tests. Secondary outcomes include maximal exercise capacity, self-reported physical activity and measures of secondary prevention.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The study received ethical approval from the VU University Amsterdam Ethics committee (2011/383). The results of this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences. We will also disseminate the main results to our participants in a letter.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The Nederlands Trial Register NTR3884.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Sint Lucas Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Boss
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Sint Lucas Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Van Schaik
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Sint Lucas Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Deijle
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Sint Lucas Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: de Melker
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sint Lucas Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: B T J
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: van den Berg
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Neuropsychology, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E J A
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Scherder
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Sint Lucas Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: W M J
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Bosboom
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Sint Lucas Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Weinstein
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Sint Lucas Andreas Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Van den Berg-Vos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D055502:Secondary Prevention / Q000379:methods; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications*
keywords: SPORTS MEDICINE