Cognitively Engaging Walking Exercise and Neuromodulation to Enhance Brain Function in Older Adults
University of Florida
Summary
Declines in cognitive function and walking function are highly intertwined in older adults. A therapeutic approach that combines complex (cognitively engaging) aerobic walking exercise with non-invasive electrical brain stimulation may be effective at restoring lost function. This study tests whether electrical stimulation of prefrontal brain regions is more beneficial than sham stimulation.
Description
Efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with complex (cognitively engaging) walking exercise in older adults. The primary outcome measures are executive function (computer-based assessment battery) and complex walking function (speed on an obstacle negotiation task). This will be a two-site trial conducted at the University of Florida (lead site) and Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital, which is necessary to achieve enrollment targets and will allow us to develop a multi-site research infrastructure for a future Phase 3 multi-site trial. The study will enroll up to 120 o…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 65+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Age 65+ * Objective executive function decline, based on standardized cognitive assessments. * Subjective cognitive decline, based on the question: "During the past 12 months, have you experienced confusion or memory loss that is happening more often or getting worse?" * Ability to walking independently for 6 minutes (use of cane permitted) Exclusion Criteria: * Major cognitive disorder that interferes with independence * Percentile score less than 10th percentile on standardized cognitive assessments * Medications that are thought to influence tDCS neuroplasticity. *…
Interventions
- BehavioralWalking Exercise
aerobic walking exercise using complex (cognitively engaging) walking tasks
- DevicePrefrontal Active tDCS
20 minutes of 2 milliamp transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of prefrontal regions, delivered at each session
- DevicePrefrontal Sham tDCS
30 seconds of 2 milliamp transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of prefrontal regions, delivered at each session
Locations (2)
- University of FloridaGainesville, Florida
- Brooks RehabilitationJacksonville, Florida