Improving brain health in older adults through high-intensity exercise breaks
Official title: Breaking prolonged sitting with high-intensity interval training to improve cognitive and brainhealth in older adults: A pilot feasibility trial
Funded at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign · NIH-10742157 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether taking short breaks for intense exercise can help older adults think better and keep their brains healthy, especially since many seniors spend a lot of time sitting.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $433,985 |
| NIH project number | 1R21AG080411-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10742157 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are older adults aged 65 and above who experience prolonged periods of sitting and are at risk for cognitive decline.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are already highly active or those with severe mobility limitations may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how breaking up prolonged sitting with high-intensity interval training can enhance cognitive function and brain health in older adults. The study aims to address the issue of physical inactivity among seniors, who often sit for extended periods, negatively impacting their brain function. By implementing short bursts of intense physical activity, the research seeks to stimulate brain activity and improve attention and memory. Participants will engage in structured exercise sessions designed to counteract the effects of prolonged sitting.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to effective strategies for improving cognitive health and reducing the risk of Alzheimer's Disease in older adults.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that physical activity can improve cognitive function in older adults, suggesting that this approach may be promising.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pindus, Dominika Maria — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Pindus, Dominika Maria
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Counterfactual explanations for AI-assisted cancer diagnosis and subtyping
A cancer-diagnosis AI tool will be made easier to understand by showing counterfactual explanations that reveal how changing histopathology images could change the model’s prediction.
-
A 3D ultrasound scanner to see early chemotherapy response in breast cancer
A new 3D ultrasound imaging method will be tested to see if it can quickly show whether breast cancer is responding to chemotherapy.
-
Upgrading automated antimicrobial testing equipment to support animal health surveillance
A university veterinary lab is upgrading its automatic system to read and incubate samples so it can continue tracking antibiotic resistance in animals and pet foods.
-
Hybridization capture sequencing to quickly identify canine urinary pathogens and resistance genes
A new sequencing approach directly from dog urine aims to rapidly identify bacteria causing urinary infections and their drug-resistance profiles to guide treatment.
-
Wearable biofeedback device to help swallowing after neurologic injury
This project helps people with swallowing problems from neurologic conditions use a small wearable sensor that shows neck muscle activity to guide exercises and improve swallowing.
-
Phthalate exposure and aging of the female reproductive system
This project looks at how certain plastics chemicals may speed up aging of the female reproductive system and affect fertility and health.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.