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Cognitive and Aerobic Resilience for the Brain

Cognitive and Aerobic Resilience for the Brain

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02390453
Acronym
CARB
Enrollment
201
Registered
2015-03-17
Start date
2015-01-31
Completion date
2019-10-25
Last updated
2023-03-07

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Mild Cognitive Impairment

Keywords

mild cognitive impairment, randomized controlled trial, cognitive training, exercise training, cognition, physical performance, disability, mood

Brief summary

This is a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of the effectiveness of cognitive and exercise training versus control condition on cognitive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Detailed description

Exercise and cognitive training hold promise for delaying progression of MCI. Exercise improves cognitive ability, brain function, and brain structure in older adults. Cognitive training has been shown to durably improve mental abilities and functional status in older adults. In addition, persons with MCI respond to some forms of cognitive training just as robustly as healthy older adults. This pilot study is a 4 group design with a home-based multi-modal physical exercise intervention, cognitive training, combined cognitive and physical training, and a social contact control enrolling older adults with MCI. This pilot study is designed to be consistent with current recommended approaches to establishing trial feasibility. If the aims are achieved, it will provide a conceptual and practical rationale to support a large, multi-site, randomized clinical trial to test the efficacy of combined physical and cognitive training in delaying time to a clinical diagnosis of dementia.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALCombined Cognitive and Physical

Combined modules provide Cognitive training from Posit Science designed to improve information processing speed, learning, memory, and attention, and Physical training focused on seated aerobic and progressive resistance exercises designed to improve aerobic capacity, muscular strength, and endurance consistent with current exercise recommendations for older adults.

BEHAVIORALCognitive

Cognitive modules from Posit Science are designed to improve information processing speed, learning, memory, and attention.

BEHAVIORALPhysical

Physical modules are focused on seated aerobic and progressive resistance training designed to improve aerobic capacity, muscular strength, and endurance consistent with current exercise recommendations for older adults.

BEHAVIORALActive Control

Control modules provide social contact for group discussion of health and successful aging.

Sponsors

National Institute on Aging (NIA)
CollaboratorNIH
Indiana University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* subjective memory complaint * minimal impairment in daily function per Functional Activity Questionnaire (FAQ) * sedentary * English speaking * access to telephone

Exclusion criteria

* dementia or Alzheimer disease * stroke, past 12 months * myocardial infarction, past 12 months * angina * Parkinson disease * multiple sclerosis * epilepsy * AIDS * brain tumor, infection, or surgery * brain injury with \> 30 minute LOC * schizophrenia * bipolar disorder * cancer with short life expectancy * current chemotherapy or radiation therapy * depression * alcohol consumption ≥ 8 drinks per week for women, or ≥15 drinks per week for men * prescription of Aricept or Namenda, past or present * self-reported difficulty reading a newspaper (low visual acuity) * low hearing or communicative ability (examiner-rated) that would interfere with interventions and outcome assessments * prior involvement in similar cognitive training studies, programs, or online training * prior use of online brain training or brain fitness programs * unable to pass the Exercise Assessment and Screening for You (EASY) * living in nursing home * scheduling conflicts with intervention schedule * unwilling to use a computer or be on video conferencing * Baseline blood pressure of Systolic \> 180 * Baseline blood pressure of Diastolic \> 100 * Baseline pulse of \< 40 or \> 100 * unable to provide informed consent

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Cognitive function composite score as measured by individually-administered tests of psychomotor speed, complex sequencing, and list learning.End of treatment at 12-weeks.The cognitive composite is derived from: WAIS-IV Symbol Search, Trail Making Test Part B, and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test.
Average participant self-ratings of intervention acceptability.From date of randomization until the date of the final training session or the end of the 12-week intervention, whichever came first.Average of individual Likert self-ratings of the interventions (where 1 = very unenjoyable, 2 = not enjoyable, 3 = neutral, 4 = enjoyable, and 5 = very enjoyable) for each session of the 12-week intervention.
Participant adherence to treatment.From date of randomization until the date of the final training session or the end of the 12-week intervention, whichever came first.Number of training sessions attended divided by the the total number of sessions available.
Participant adherence to outcome assessment.End of treatment at 12-weeks.Number of participants completing the post-training outcome assessment divided by the total number randomized.
Number of participants with study-related adverse events (AE) by treatment arm.From enrollment through end of treatment at 12-weeks.

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026