Motoric Cognitive Risk Syndrome: Refining Treatment Strategies and Testing Feasibility to Personalize Treatment for Older Veterans
VA Office of Research and Development
Summary
This study will begin to evaluate personalized preventative dementia treatments for Veterans at risk for developing dementia. The investigators will target Veterans with Motoric Cognitive Risk syndrome (MCR), which is characterized by slow gait speed and cognitive concerns (e.g., problems with memory or concentrations).
Description
This study will involve therapeutic exercise treatments for Veterans with pre-clinical dementia syndrome. Participants will either participate in functional power training, music-based walking training, or a combination of both. The study will use a sequential multiple assignment, randomized trial (SMART) design. Successful completion of this study will lay the foundation for subsequent research trials, contributing to valuable evidence for personalized rehabilitation medicine for older Veterans.
Eligibility
- Age range
- 65+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age 65 2. Receiving VA primary care 3. Community-dwelling 4. Motoric Cognitive Risky Syndrome i. Slow gait speed ii. Subjective cognitive concerns/complaints Exclusion Criteria: 1. Non-English speaking 2. Presence of a terminal disease 3. Major medical problem 4. Myocardial infarction or major surgery in the previous 3 months 5. 3-point walking pattern 6. Dementia diagnostic 7. Mobility disability
Interventions
- BehavioralFunctional Power Training (FPT)
Participants will receive twice weekly FPT, a progressive functional-based exercises that target optimizing leg force production and leg velocity.
- BehavioralMusic-Based Digital Therapy (MBDT)
Participants will receive twice weekly MBDT, a technology-driven gait training that is grounded in evidence-based rehabilitation treatment, rhythmic auditory stimulation.
- BehavioralFPT + MBDT
For non-responders who were randomized to augment treatment, they will receive combined FPT and MBDT treatment.
Location
- VA Boston Healthcare System Jamaica Plain Campus, Jamaica Plain, MABoston, Massachusetts