Evaluating the Effects of a Cognitively Enriched Walking Program for Older Adults on Cognitive Functioning, Psychosocial Wellbeing and Physical Activity: a Randomized Controlled Trial
Overview
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Intervention
- Not specified
- Conditions
- Healthy Aging
- Sponsor
- University Ghent
- Enrollment
- 113
- Locations
- 2
- Primary Endpoint
- cognitive functioning T4
- Status
- Recruiting
- Last Updated
- 2 years ago
Overview
Brief Summary
Dementia currently affects more than 47 million people worldwide, its prevalence is forecasted to triple by 2050, and it has been reported to be one of the most costly disorders in Belgium. There is good scientific evidence that the cognitive impairments associated with the development of dementia can be lessened or even reversed thanks to the plasticity of the brain (rewiring). Recent research has shown that physical activity combined with performing cognitively challenging tasks is a very potent way to induce this rewiring of the brain, which can enable people to improve their cognitive functions. Yet, so far, these studies are mainly limited to controlled laboratory conditions. The investigators developed a real-life cognitively enriched walking program, with input from experts and end-users. In this study, the investigators will examine the added value of enriching physical activity (walking) with cognitive exercises in improving cognition of older adults by conducting a six-month community-based randomized controlled trial. The investigators will also examine the longer term effectiveness in a follow-up measurement visit six months after the program. The investigators will focus on the following outcomes: cognitive functioning (i.e., objective, subjective and cognitive activity), psychosocial wellbeing (i.e., loneliness, social support, depressive symptomatology, positive wellbeing and expectations regarding aging), physical activity (i.e. both objective and subjective) and general health.
Investigators
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •male and female volunteers
- •aged 65 years and older
- •community-dwelling
Exclusion Criteria
- •Have a neurodegenerative disorder (i.e. Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Multiple Sclerosis,...);
- •Are diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI);
- •Are diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder (e.g. schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder,...);
- •Are currently having a depressive episode;
- •Have had a serious brain injury in the past year, or before and still experience consequences (i.e. traumatic brain injury, stroke, brain haemorrhage);
- •Have a history of, or current, addiction to drugs or excessive alcohol abuse;
- •Are not able to walk approximately three kilometres in one hour (at an average walking pace);
- •Make use of a walking aid (i.e. a cane, a (rollator) walker, or a wheelchair);
- •One or both of their parents were diagnosed with juvenile dementia;
- •Know in advance that they will not be will not be present for one or more periods of longer than one month (e.g. because of a long holiday).
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
cognitive functioning T4
Time Frame: 12 months follow-up
- Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) (Bento-Torres et al., 2017; Sahakian \& Owen, 1992; Zygouris \& Tsolaki, 2015): objective cognitive functioning is assessed with CANTAB. Different tests can be configured in a test battery, based on the focus of the study. The tests are non-verbal and culturally independent and make use of touchscreen technology. The CANTAB has been shown sensitive to changes in cognitive performance. Six different tests were selected to obtain a comprehensive view of one's objective cognitive functioning. The selected tests assess attention (i.e. sustained attention), memory (i.e. visual episodic attention and short term visual memory) and executive functioning (i.e. working memory and strategy).
objective cognitive functioning T1
Time Frame: baseline
- Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) (Bento-Torres et al., 2017; Sahakian \& Owen, 1992; Zygouris \& Tsolaki, 2015): objective cognitive functioning is assessed with CANTAB. Different tests can be configured in a test battery, based on the focus of the study. The tests are non-verbal and culturally independent and make use of touchscreen technology. The CANTAB has been shown sensitive to changes in cognitive performance. Six different tests were selected to obtain a comprehensive view of one's objective cognitive functioning. The selected tests assess attention (i.e. sustained attention), memory (i.e. visual episodic attention and short term visual memory) and executive functioning (i.e. working memory and strategy).
objective cognitive functioning T2
Time Frame: 3 months follow-up
- Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) (Bento-Torres et al., 2017; Sahakian \& Owen, 1992; Zygouris \& Tsolaki, 2015): objective cognitive functioning is assessed with CANTAB. Different tests can be configured in a test battery, based on the focus of the study. The tests are non-verbal and culturally independent and make use of touchscreen technology. The CANTAB has been shown sensitive to changes in cognitive performance. Six different tests were selected to obtain a comprehensive view of one's objective cognitive functioning. The selected tests assess attention (i.e. sustained attention), memory (i.e. visual episodic attention and short term visual memory) and executive functioning (i.e. working memory and strategy).
objective cognitive functioning T3
Time Frame: 6 months follow-up
- Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) (Bento-Torres et al., 2017; Sahakian \& Owen, 1992; Zygouris \& Tsolaki, 2015): objective cognitive functioning is assessed with CANTAB. Different tests can be configured in a test battery, based on the focus of the study. The tests are non-verbal and culturally independent and make use of touchscreen technology. The CANTAB has been shown sensitive to changes in cognitive performance. Six different tests were selected to obtain a comprehensive view of one's objective cognitive functioning. The selected tests assess attention (i.e. sustained attention), memory (i.e. visual episodic attention and short term visual memory) and executive functioning (i.e. working memory and strategy).
subjective cognitive functioning T1 - Cognitive Failures Questionnaire
Time Frame: baseline
Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) (Broadbent et al., 1982; Ponds et al., 2006): this self-administered questionnaire assesses subjective cognitive functioning. Participants are asked about minor everyday slips or errors. It is not a replacement for testing objective cognitive functioning, but reflects the experience of the frequency of everyday slips of the participant. The CFQ consists of 25 items. Participants have to rate the items on a five-point response scale going from "1" (very ofen) to "5" (never). Higher scores reflect less cognitive failure.
subjective cognitive functioning T1 - Cognitive and Leisure Activities Scale (CLAS)
Time Frame: baseline
Cognitive and Leisure Activities Scale (CLAS) (Galvin et al., 2021): this is a measure of the type and frequency of cognitive activities. It includes sixteen types of cognitive activities and is self-administered. Even though it is difficult to establish the validity of this new questionnaire since there is no gold standard to measure cognitive activity, it is suggested that this questionnaire has a good content validity. The CLAS consists of 16 items that are scored on a five-point response scale, going from 0 "never" to 5 "daily". Higher scores reflect a higher frequency of doing the activity.
subjective cognitive functioning T2 - Cognitive and Leisure Activities Scale (CLAS)
Time Frame: 3 months follow-up
Cognitive and Leisure Activities Scale (CLAS) (Galvin et al., 2021): this is a measure of the type and frequency of cognitive activities. It includes sixteen types of cognitive activities and is self-administered. Even though it is difficult to establish the validity of this new questionnaire since there is no gold standard to measure cognitive activity, it is suggested that this questionnaire has a good content validity. The CLAS consists of 16 items that are scored on a five-point response scale, going from 0 "never" to 5 "daily". Higher scores reflect a higher frequency of doing the activity.
subjective cognitive functioning T2 - Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ)
Time Frame: 3 months follow-up
Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) (Broadbent et al., 1982; Ponds et al., 2006): this self-administered questionnaire assesses subjective cognitive functioning. Participants are asked about minor everyday slips or errors. It is not a replacement for testing objective cognitive functioning, but reflects the experience of the frequency of everyday slips of the participant.
subjective cognitive functioning T3 - Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ)
Time Frame: 6 months follow-up
Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) (Broadbent et al., 1982; Ponds et al., 2006): this self-administered questionnaire assesses subjective cognitive functioning. Participants are asked about minor everyday slips or errors. It is not a replacement for testing objective cognitive functioning, but reflects the experience of the frequency of everyday slips of the participant. The CFQ consists of 25 items. Participants have to rate the items on a five-point response scale going from "1" (very ofen) to "5" (never). Higher scores reflect less cognitive failure.
subjective cognitive functioning T4 - Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ)
Time Frame: 12 months follow-up
Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) (Broadbent et al., 1982; Ponds et al., 2006): this self-administered questionnaire assesses subjective cognitive functioning. Participants are asked about minor everyday slips or errors. It is not a replacement for testing objective cognitive functioning, but reflects the experience of the frequency of everyday slips of the participant. The CFQ consists of 25 items. Participants have to rate the items on a five-point response scale going from "1" (very ofen) to "5" (never). Higher scores reflect less cognitive failure.
subjective cognitive functioning T3 - Cognitive and Leisure Activities Scale (CLAS)
Time Frame: 6 months follow-up
Cognitive and Leisure Activities Scale (CLAS)(Galvin et al., 2021): this is a measure of the type and frequency of cognitive activities. It includes sixteen types of cognitive activities and is self-administered. Even though it is difficult to establish the validity of this new questionnaire since there is no gold standard to measure cognitive activity, it is suggested that this questionnaire has a good content validity. The CLAS consists of 16 items that are scored on a five-point response scale, going from 0 "never" to 5 "daily". Higher scores reflect a higher frequency of doing the activity.
subjective cognitive functioning T4 - Cognitive and Leisure Activities Scale (CLAS)
Time Frame: 12 months follow-up
Cognitive and Leisure Activities Scale (CLAS) (Galvin et al., 2021): this is a measure of the type and frequency of cognitive activities. It includes sixteen types of cognitive activities and is self-administered. Even though it is difficult to establish the validity of this new questionnaire since there is no gold standard to measure cognitive activity, it is suggested that this questionnaire has a good content validity. The CLAS consists of 16 items that are scored on a five-point response scale, going from 0 "never" to 5 "daily". Higher scores reflect a higher frequency of doing the activity.
Secondary Outcomes
- Psychosocial wellbeing questionnaires T2(3 months follow-up)
- Psychosocial wellbeing questionnaires T3(6 months follow-up)
- Physical activity assessment (subjective) T1(baseline)
- Psychosocial wellbeing questionnaires T1(baseline)
- Physical activity assessment (objective) T1(baseline)
- Physical activity assessment (subjective) T4(12 months follow-up)
- Psychosocial wellbeing questionnaires T4(12 months follow-up)
- Physical activity assessment (subjective) T2(3 months follow-up)
- Physical activity assessment (objective) T2(3 months follow-up)
- Physical activity assessment (subjective) T3(6 months follow-up)
- Physical activity assessment (objective) T3(6 months follow-up)
- Physical activity assessment (objective) T4(12 months follow-up)
- General health questionnaires T1 - Sleep Disturbances(baseline)
- General health questionnaires T1 - General Health(baseline)
- General health questionnaires T2 - Sleep Disturbances(3 months follow-up)
- General health questionnaires T3 - General Health(6 months follow-up)
- General health questionnaires T2 - General Health(3 months follow-up)
- General health questionnaires T3 - Sleep Disturbances(6 months follow-up)
- General health questionnaires T4 - General Health(12 months follow-up)
- General health questionnaires T4 - Sleep Disturbances(12 months follow-up)