Exercise to enhance brain health in older African Americans

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This clinical trial investigates the effects of two different exercise interventions, Cardio-Dance Fitness (CDF) and Strength, Flexibility, and Balance (SFB), on brain health and Alzheimer's risk among older African Americans. Participants will undergo health assessments, cognitive tests, and brain imaging to evaluate changes in cognitive markers and neural flexibility associated with each exercise type. The study also aims to explore how genetic variations, specifically in the ABCA7 gene, may influence the effectiveness of these interventions in reducing Alzheimer's risk. By focusing on a population at higher risk for Alzheimer's, the trial seeks to identify tailored exercise strategies that could improve cognitive health.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* self-identify as either African American or Black;
* be age 60 or older;
* able to speak, read, and understand English;
* available over the study period; independently ambulatory (i.e., not needing a wheelchair, walker, or cane);
* meet criteria for low levels of physical activity (less than 60 minutes per week) based on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-short version);
* scoring 28-35 (inclusive) on the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status Modified (sensitivity \[43%\], specificity \[94%\] for lower threshold; sensitivity \[93%\], specificity \[42%\] for upper threshold)55.
* scoring 20-26 (inclusive) on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) during the in-person screening
* have clearance to participate from their primary care physician, with oversight of all our patient health under the guidance of our physician-scientist Co-I, William Hu, Chief of Cognitive Neurology at Rutgers.

Exclusion Criteria:

* color-blindness (because some of our tasks utilize color as a cue);
* any diagnosed neurological disorder (including headaches and peripheral neuropathy); diagnosed or self-reported non-neurological conditions that likely affect MTL outcomes, such as, major depressive disorder (or a Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form score ≥ 5), schizophrenia, delusional disorder, schizoaffective disorder or significant psychiatric symptoms that could impair the completion of the study (e.g., psychosis), substance-related and addictive disorders (or treatment in past five years), chemotherapy or radiation treatment for cancers, planning to undergo general anesthesia during the study period;
* exercise contraindications, such as, orthopedic complications, myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass grafting, angioplasty or other cardiac condition in the past year, current treatment for congestive heart failure, angina, uncontrolled arrhythmia, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or another cardiovascular event, and uncontrolled hypertension with resting systolic or diastolic blood pressures \> 180/110 mmHg.

Where it's running

• Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey - Newark campus
  Newark, New Jersey, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Mark A. Gluck, PhD — Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey - Newark campus
• Study coordinator: Bernadette A. Fausto, PhD
• Email: bernadette.fausto@rutgers.edu
• Phone: (973) 944-0775

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.