Determinants of Individual Differences in the Efficacy of Aerobic Exercise to Improve Brain Health and Reduce Alzheimer's Disease Risk in Older African Americans
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to test the effects of different types of exercise on brain health and Alzheimer's risk in older African Americans. Specifically, the main question\[s\] it aims to answer are: * What is the effect of a Cardio-Dance Fitness (CDF) vs. a Strength, Flexibility, and Balance (SFB) intervention on a cognitive marker of Alzheimer's risk, generalization? * What is the effect of the CDF vs. SFB intervention on a fMRI biomarker of Alzheimer's, neural flexibility, and do improvements in neural flexibility mediate improvements in generalization? * Do ABCA7 genotypic variations moderate the efficacy of the CDF vs. SFB intervention for reducing Alzheimer's risk? Participants will undergo-- at baseline and post-test-- health assessments, cognitive tests, and structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and a blood-draw to assess Alzheimer's risk biomarker levels.
Description
Older African Americans-especially those with lower income and those living in urban neighborhoods- have a greater risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) compared to the general population. This health disparity is attributable, in part, to modifiable factors including insufficient levels of aerobic exercise. However, not everyone gains the same degree of neuroprotection from exercise. For the proposed project, the investigators plan to investigate genetic risk as a novel source of response heterogeneity to exercise interventions in African Americans. Previously, the investigators demonstrated that…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 60+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
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…
Interventions
- BehavioralCardio-Dance Fitness
This is an aerobic cardio-dance fitness exercise class in a social context with aerobic intensity assessed by heart rate monitoring throughout the class. Participants will meet three times a week for approximately 60 minutes per session, over 24 weeks (approximately 6 months).
- BehavioralStrength, Flexibility & Balance
This intervention will serve as a stringent, structurally equivalent, active comparator to the CDF intervention, identical in duration, frequency, and social contact except for the content of this non-aerobic intervention. SFB will involve non-aerobic activity with strength, flexibility, and balance training.
Location
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey - Newark campusNewark, New Jersey