Short intense exercise breaks to interrupt long sitting and boost older adults' brain health
Breaking prolonged sitting with high-intensity interval training to improve cognitive and brainhealth in older adults: A pilot feasibility trial
['FUNDING_R21'] · UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST · NIH-11372052
This project will try brief high-intensity exercise breaks during long periods of sitting to help attention and memory in older adults.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R21'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (HADLEY, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11372052 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would be asked to interrupt long sitting with short bursts of higher-intensity activity while researchers measure attention, memory, and related brain function. The team will compare how these breaks affect frontoparietal brain activity and tests of attentional control and episodic memory. They plan to link any changes to body signals released by exercise that can stimulate brain circuits. This small pilot checks whether the approach is practical and shows enough promise for larger studies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are older adults who can safely perform brief high-intensity exercise and are willing to attend in-person sessions at UMass Amherst.
Not a fit: People unable to perform brief intense exercise because of serious cardiovascular, mobility, or other medical restrictions, or those who are much younger, are unlikely to benefit from this trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could improve attention and memory in older adults by replacing prolonged sitting with short, intense activity breaks.
How similar studies have performed: Single-session exercise studies have shown short-term improvements in attention and frontoparietal brain function, but using high-intensity breaks to reduce prolonged sitting and boost memory is a novel pilot approach.
Where this research is happening
HADLEY, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST — HADLEY, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: PINDUS, DOMINIKA MARIA — UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST
- Study coordinator: PINDUS, DOMINIKA MARIA
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 below.