# The Active AMD Study to Improve Function in Veterans with Age Related Macular Degeneration

> **NIH VA I01** · VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION · 2024 · —

## Abstract

Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of vision loss among Veterans
aged 50 years and older. AMD also adversely affects mortality, physical and cognitive
functioning, and activities of daily living. These debilitations negatively impact quality of life for
US Veterans. Unfortunately, there are no cures and few treatments. With the increase in the
aging Veteran population and the increasing prevalence of AMD, it is imperative to identify and
implement strategies to limit the functional burden of AMD. To address this growing challenge,
we propose to test the impact of a proven exercise intervention, stationary bicycling (spinning),
on visual and non-visual negative health outcomes in AMD. Our work in several retinal
degeneration mouse models shows that aerobic exercise significantly preserves retinal
morphology and function and visual acuity. Even more exciting, our preliminary work with older
Veterans with and without AMD suggests that spin cycling modestly but significantly benefits
visual acuity in aged Veterans. Based on this work, we propose to implement a 6-month
synchronous, online group spin cycling program for Veterans with AMD, evaluating effects on
physical, cognitive, and visual outcomes. Aim 1 is to determine if exercise training preserves
visual outcomes in Veterans with intermediate AMD when compared to a non-aerobic
exercised, contact-controlled AMD group. Best corrected visual acuity, dark adaptometry,
contrast sensitivity, optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) and the Low
Luminance Questionnaire will be assessed before, mid, and after the 6-month interventional
period. In line with our previous animal and human subject studies, we also hypothesize a
correlation between improved visual function with increases in serum brain derived neurotrophic
factor (BDNF). Aim 2 is to determine if exercise improves physical and cognitive function in
Veterans with AMD when compared to non-aerobic exercised, contact-controlled AMD group.
We will test the timed-up-and-go (TUG) and a neuropsychological battery, mid- and post 6-
month interventional period. These provide a robust index of other health, well-being, and
quality of life related outcomes in numerous older adult patient populations. In line with our
preliminary studies, our working hypothesis is that 6 months of exercise will result in a clinically
significant improvement in TUG performance as well as improved cognitive-executive functions.
We expect that the results from achieving these aims will set the stage for a larger, multi-site
trial powered to test the hypothesis that virtual exercise can slow the progression of AMD while
improving physical and cognitive function and quality of life in Veterans. Thus, we propose an
accessible, low-cost intervention that can be easily scalable to other VA centers to improve
engagement/adherence, while also improving visual and functional capacity for Veterans with
AMD who are at high risk for comorbidities.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10752987
- **Project number:** 1I01RX004563-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
- **Principal Investigator:** JEFFREY H BOATRIGHT
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-11-01 → 2027-10-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10752987

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10752987, The Active AMD Study to Improve Function in Veterans with Age Related Macular Degeneration (1I01RX004563-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10752987. Licensed CC0.

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