Clinical trial NCT01264614: Effects of Strengthening Exercise on the Brain for Early Dementia and Normative Older Adults
Official title: Neuropsychological and Neuroimaging Effects of Strengthening Exercise for Early Dementia and Normative Older Adults
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Cognitive Decline
Dementia
Alzheimer's Disease
Mild Cognitive Impairment
Keywords: exercise
neuropsychological
dementia
Alzheimer's Disease
mild cognitive impairment
strength
MCI
AD
EEG
neurophysiological
growth factor
cognitive decline
executive function
Lead sponsor: Union College, New York
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: US Department of Veterans Affairs
First posted: 2010-12-22
Enrollment: 22
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 55
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: This study will evaluate the effects of low-intensity strengthening exercise on the brain (thinking and processing speed) for patients with early dementia, compared with normative older adults. Participants will engage in 3 months of exercise 3-5 times per week using a chair and small weights. It is hypothesized that there will be a significant improvement in brain function.

Detailed description: 1. Objective(s): This study will evaluate the neuropsychological and neurophysiological effects of low-intensity strengthening exercise for patients with early dementia, compared with normative older adults.
2. Research Design: This is a quasi-experimental design in which change over time as a result of the exercise intervention will be compared with change over time seen in a normative sample.
3. Methodology: The aim is to enroll 12 participants with early dementia and 12 normative controls, all who are interested in starting a strengthening exercise program. Neuropsychological evaluation, resting electroencephalography (EEG), and event-related potentials (ERP) data collection will commence prior to the start of exercise. Participants will participate in an exercise class 2-3x/wk for three months. Repeat neuropsychological, EEG, and ERP evaluations will occur at the conclusion of three months of exercise. The exercises consist of low-intensity exercises, using a chair and small weights. A leader trained in the Tufts University exercise model will conduct the classes.
4. Findings: The investigators hypothesize a positive impact of exercise on neuropsychological function, especially performance on tasks requiring executive functions. This change will be compared with performance of normative controls who also exercise. Changes in brain function will be explored using EEG and ERP, and results are expected to be similar to prior research examining older adult exercisers which shows improvement in function.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Adult Day Program Participants with early dementia able to consent or assent with surrogate permission
* Control participants (55-100+ yo) able to participate at location with doctor permission

Exclusion Criteria:

* history of significant TBI, psychiatric condition, substance abuse, physical conditions that preclude participation in cognitive testing or strengthening exercises

Primary outcomes:
measure: Stroop Test Performance From Pre- to Post-intervention
timeFrame: Baseline and 3 months
measure: Digits Backwards Test Performance From Pre- to Post-intervention
timeFrame: Baseline and 3 months
measure: Color Trails Test Performance From Pre- to Post-intervention
timeFrame: Baseline and 3 months
measure: Fuld Test Performance From Pre- to Post-intervention
timeFrame: Baseline and 3 months
measure: Figure Copy & Delayed Test Performance From Pre- to Post-intervention
timeFrame: Baseline and 3 months
measure: Neurophysiological Function Pre- & Post- Intervention
timeFrame: Baseline and 3 months
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Albany
country: United States
facility: Stratton VA Medical Center
state: New York
Study officials:
affiliation: Union College
name: Cay Anderson-Hanley, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Yerokhin V, Anderson-Hanley C, Hogan MJ, Dunnam M, Huber D, Osborne S, Shulan M. Neuropsychological and neurophysiological effects of strengthening exercise for early dementia: a pilot study. Neuropsychol Dev Cogn B Aging Neuropsychol Cogn. 2012;19(3):380-401. doi: 10.1080/13825585.2011.628378. Epub 2011 Dec 2.