Fit & Active Seniors Trial
Condition: Aging
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The investigators propose to test the hypothesis that a six-month intervention of combined
      fitness and cognitive training in the form of dancing will have a significant positive effect
      on a variety of executive control and memory processes as well as brain structure and
      function as compared to a non-aerobic strength and balance control/comparison group.
      Additionally, these two groups will be compared to walking groups in which one of the walking
      groups will also be provided with a daily, liquid, milk-based nutritional supplement.
    

Detailed description: 
      Our previous trial (known as HALT, Healthy Active Lifestyle Trial) suggests that improvements
      in aerobic fitness have beneficial effects on cognitive function that are rather specific.
      That is, improvements in aerobic fitness appear to result in improvements in executive
      control processes such as scheduling, planning, coordination, inhibition, and working memory
      - some of the very cognitive abilities most affected during aging. Indeed, executive control
      processes and the prefrontal and frontal regions which support them have shown substantial
      and disproportionate age-related declines. The main hypothesis that the investigators test in
      the present project is that such deficits may be particularly benefited by improvements in
      aerobic fitness combined with cognitive training in the form of dance. Additionally, we will
      compare the outcomes of these interventions with an aerobic condition (walking) group and an
      aerobic condition (walking) group that also is provided with a daily nutritional supplement
      (walking + nutrition). The investigators will examine the relationship between aerobic
      fitness, physical activity, cognitive status, and brain function with this six-month aerobic
      training intervention study. The investigators will collect psychosocial data and functional
      fitness data to assess other relevant changes in psychological and physical function brought
      about by exercise training. Healthy, non-active older adults (60 to 79 years of age) will be
      recruited from the local community. Half One quarter of the older adults will be randomly
      assigned to an aerobic/cognitive combination group (dance), one quarter will be while the
      remaining half of the older adults will be randomly assigned to a non-aerobic control group
      (stretching, strengthening, and stability), one quarter will be assigned to the walking
      group, and one quarter will be assigned to the walking + nutrition group. The exercise
      interventions will be conducted by trained exercise staff. The participants will be assessed
      before and after the intervention (6 months). Assessments will include (a) cardiorespiratory
      testing, (b) physical activity monitoring (c) performance on neurocognitive tests of
      executive and non-executive function (d) measures of brain activation (fMRI) during cognitive
      tasks in a 3.0 tesla MRI system (e) a battery of psychosocial questionnaires (f) functional
      performance measures and (g) a mock street walking task.
    

Intervention name(s): Dance Group; Strength, Stretching, Stability; Walking; Walking + Nutrition
Intervention type(s): Behavioral; Behavioral; Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Participants will be instructed and learn various forms of dance (i.e. English country, folk, ballroom) and will be led by trained dance instructors and exercise specialists. Participants will for one-hour sessions and meet three times per week for six months.; Exercises focusing on strength, flexibility and balance will be performed at one-hour sessions held three times per week for six months. Classes are led by trained exercise specialists.; Participants in this moderate aerobic conditioning exercise program will be instructed in a walking program that focuses on having them walk within their target heart rate. They will be provided with heart rate monitors and pedometers for accurate record keeping. They will meet three times per week for one hour for six months. Warm up and cool down stretches will be a part of each walking session and sessions will be monitored and led by trained exercise specialists.; Participants in this moderate aerobic conditioning exercise program will be instructed in a walking program that focuses on having them walk within their target heart rate. They will be provided with heart rate monitors and pedometers for accurate record keeping. They will meet three times per week for one hour for six months. Warm up and cool down stretches will be a part of each walking session and sessions will be monitored and led by trained exercise specialists. These participants will also be provided with a daily nutritionally balanced liquid, milk-based supplement formula.
Other intervention name(s): Fit & Active Seniors Trial; Fit & Active Seniors Trial
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single (Outcomes Assessor)
Primary purpose: Treatment
Keywords: Executive function; Aging; Physical activity