This study has two phases:

Phase 1 is to examine blood pressure, microvascular function, and sympathetic nerve activity in mid-life adult binge drinkers vs. alcohol abstainers/moderate drinkers.

Phase 2 is to examine the effect of 8-week aerobic exercise training on blood pressure, microvascular function, and sympathetic nerve activity in mid-life adult binge drinkers

During phase 1, we will measure blood pressure, microvascular function, and sympathetic nerve activity (baseline assessment) in mid-life adult binge drinkers, alcohol abstainers, and moderate drinkers. Only mid-life adult binge drinkers will enter Phase 2 and be randomized to the exercise training group and non-exercise control group. After 8 weeks of intervention, we will re-measure blood pressure, microvascular function, and sympathetic nerve activity (post-intervention assessment) in mid-life adult binge drinkers.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Men and women (50-64 years of age) who do not drink alcohol, who drink at moderate levels, or who binge drink
• Female subjects will be postmenopausal (i.e., cessation of menses for ≥1 yr).
• Subjects who can speak and understand English.

Exclusion Criteria:

• a history of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, liver, or renal disease
• current or history of smoking and illicit drug use
• blood pressure ≥160/100 mm Hg
• other known traditional cardiovascular disease risks: obesity (BMI≥35 kg/m2), or hyperlipidemia (total cholesterol>230 mg/dl and/or LDL cholesterol>160 mg/dl)
• active infection (in the past 2 months)
• a history of seizures, cancer, or inflammatory disease (i.e., gout or rheumatoid)
• unstable body weight (>5% change during the past 6 months)
• regular aerobic exercise training (i.e., they engage in 30 min of structured aerobic exercise at least 3 times per week)
• current use of hormone replacement therapy (i.e., estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone)

We will submit to the NIMH Data Archive human subjects' data that were collected as part of the "Research Project" including microvascular function, sympathetic activity, and blood pressure. These data will be made accessible to authorized users for the purpose of scientific investigation, scholarship or teaching, or other forms of research and research development.

Data will be shared with authorized users upon publication (via an NDA Study) or 1-2 years after the grant end date (04/30/2026).

Submit a Data Access Request to NDA and get approval