Exercise to enhance brain health in older African Americans
Determinants of Individual Differences in the Efficacy of Aerobic Exercise to Improve Brain Health and Reduce Alzheimer's Disease Risk in Older African Americans
This study is testing whether two types of exercise, Cardio-Dance Fitness and Strength, Flexibility, and Balance, can help improve brain health and lower Alzheimer's risk in older African Americans.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 2 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 280 (estimated) |
| Ages | 60 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy, radiation |
| Locations | 1 site (Newark, New Jersey) |
| Trial ID | NCT05597124 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
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.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are African American individuals aged 60 or older who are independently ambulatory and have low levels of physical activity.
Not a fit: Patients who are not African American or Black, those with significant mobility impairments, or those who do not meet the cognitive assessment criteria may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide targeted exercise interventions that significantly reduce Alzheimer's risk and improve cognitive health in older African Americans.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promising results with exercise interventions improving cognitive function in older adults, but this specific approach focusing on genetic factors in African Americans is novel.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
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 this trial is running
Newark, New Jersey
- 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
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.