INSPIRE: Strategies to preserve thinking skills and engagement
Intervention Strategies for Preserving Intellectual Resilience and Engagement
This program will try a lifestyle and nutrition approach for people 55 and older—especially African American adults in South Los Angeles—to help keep thinking skills and lower dementia risk.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 2000 (estimated) |
| Ages | 55 Years to 85 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Healthy Minds Initiative Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Los Angeles, California) |
| Trial ID | NCT06741865 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
INSPIRE is a community-based, randomized project enrolling 2,000 adults aged 55+ in the Crenshaw/South Los Angeles area to test whether personalized lifestyle and nutrition support can preserve cognitive health. Participants will complete a baseline assessment of medical history, cognition, and lifestyle, then be randomized to a multi-component intervention with health coaches, an online community forum, tailored exercise programs, and educational resources, or to receive standard health education and monthly communications. The project emphasizes culturally tailored outreach and partnership with local organizations to address disparities in lifestyle-related risk factors for dementia. The study is led by the Healthy Minds Initiative with academic and community collaborators and is scheduled to begin in early 2025.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults aged 55 or older who are fluent in English, live in the Crenshaw/South Los Angeles area (or can attend study activities), and have normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, or subjective cognitive concerns are the intended participants, with a focus on African American community members.
Not a fit: People with a diagnosis of dementia or severe cognitive or physical impairments that prevent participation in lifestyle activities are unlikely to benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve or maintain thinking skills and reduce dementia risk through accessible diet and lifestyle changes targeted to a high-risk community.
How similar studies have performed: Previous multi-domain lifestyle trials such as the FINGER trial have shown modest cognitive benefits in older adults, but few large randomized programs have specifically targeted African American communities in a community-based setting.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age: Participants must be 55 years of age or older. * Ethnicity: Focused on African American individuals, but not exclusive. * Cognitive Status: Participants must have normal cognitive status, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), or subjective cognitive impairment (SCI). * Language: Participants must be fluent in English. * Location: Must reside in the Crenshaw, California area or be able to attend study-related activities in this location. * Willingness to Participate: Participants must be willing to adhere to the study protocol, including attending assessments, participating in interventions, and completing questionnaires. Exclusion Criteria: * Cognitive Decline: Diagnosis of dementia or severe cognitive impairment that would interfere with the ability to participate in the study. * Physical Limitations: Any physical or medical condition that would preclude participation in the lifestyle interventions (e.g., severe mobility issues). * Recent Cancer Diagnosis: Diagnosis of cancer within the last three years, excluding stable cases of basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or stable prostate cancer. * Pregnancy: Current pregnancy or planning to become pregnant during the study period. * Mental Health: Diagnosis of severe psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder that might interfere with participation. * Substance Abuse: Current substance abuse or dependency that could impact participation. * Hearing Impairment: Uncorrected hearing loss that would limit the ability to communicate and participate in the study. * Non-English Speaking: Inability to participate in English-language oral and written cognitive assessments. * Participation in Another Study: Currently enrolled in another clinical trial that could interfere with the INSPIRE Study. * Life expectancy less than 3 years * Unwillingness to share medical and laboratory information.
Where this trial is running
Los Angeles, California
- Crenshaw Christian Center — Los Angeles, California, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Dean Sherzai, MD, PhD — Healthy Minds Initiative
- Study coordinator: Dean Sherzai, MD, PhD
- Email: dean@healthymindsinitiative.org
- Phone: 949-383-6729
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.