Up-2 Study: Cognitively Engaging Walking Exercise and Neuromodulation to Enhance Brain Function in Older Adults

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Frail Elderly; Mobility Limitation; Cognitive Dysfunction
• Interventions: Behavioral: Walking Exercise; Device: Prefrontal Active tDCS; Device: Prefrontal Sham tDCS

• Registration Number: NCT05830942
• Lead Sponsor: University of Florida

Brief Summary

Declines in cognitive function and walking function are highly intertwined in older adults. A therapeutic approach that combines complex (cognitively engaging) aerobic walking exercise with non-invasive electrical brain stimulation may be effective at restoring lost function. This study tests whether electrical stimulation of prefrontal brain regions is more beneficial than sham stimulation.

Detailed Description

Efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with complex (cognitively engaging) walking exercise in older adults. The primary outcome measures are executive function (computer-based assessment battery) and complex walking function (speed on an obstacle negotiation task). This will be a two-site trial conducted at the University of Florida (lead site) and Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital, which is necessary to achieve enrollment targets and will allow us to develop a multi-site research infrastructure for a future Phase 3 multi-site trial. The study will enroll up to 120 older adult women and men, who exhibit mild to moderate decline of executive function. All experimental groups will receive the same complex walking intervention, which will focus on use of cognitively engaging tasks such as obstacle crossing, accurate foot placement, and walking on complaint surfaces. Each session will consist of 30 minutes of walking. For tDCS, the active treatment group will receive 20 minutes of 2mA tDCS over prefrontal regions F3/F4 ("treatment group"). The second group is a sham control group. tDCS will be delivered simultaneously with complex walking exercise for 18 sessions over a 6-week period. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, post intervention (within one week), and 12 weeks post-intervention.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2023-04-11
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-04-25
• Study First Posted: 2023-04-26
• Study Start: 2024-04-15
• Status Verified: 2025-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-05-05
• Last Update Posted: 2025-05-08
• Primary Completion: 2027-04-30
• Study Completion: 2027-04-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 120

Inclusion Criteria

• Age 65+
• Objective executive function decline, based on standardized cognitive assessments.
• Subjective cognitive decline, based on the question: "During the past 12 months, have you experienced confusion or memory loss that is happening more often or getting worse?"
• Ability to walking independently for 6 minutes (use of cane permitted)

Exclusion Criteria

• Major cognitive disorder that interferes with independence
• Percentile score less than 10th percentile on standardized cognitive assessments
• Medications that are thought to influence tDCS neuroplasticity.
• Contraindications to tDCS or MRI.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Walking Exercise plus active tDCS	Prefrontal Active tDCS	The walking exercise will focus on use of complex walking tasks such as obstacle crossing, accurate foot placement, and walking on compliant surfaces. Each session will consist of 30 minutes of walking. Active tDCS will be delivered over prefrontal cortex.
Walking Exercise plus sham tDCS	Walking Exercise	The walking exercise will focus on use of complex walking tasks such as obstacle crossing, accurate foot placement, and walking on compliant surfaces. Each session will consist of 30 minutes of walking. Sham tDCS will be delivered over prefrontal cortex.
Walking Exercise plus active tDCS	Walking Exercise	The walking exercise will focus on use of complex walking tasks such as obstacle crossing, accurate foot placement, and walking on compliant surfaces. Each session will consist of 30 minutes of walking. Active tDCS will be delivered over prefrontal cortex.
Walking Exercise plus sham tDCS	Prefrontal Sham tDCS	The walking exercise will focus on use of complex walking tasks such as obstacle crossing, accurate foot placement, and walking on compliant surfaces. Each session will consist of 30 minutes of walking. Sham tDCS will be delivered over prefrontal cortex.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
score on test of executive function	baseline, post-intervention (an average of 6 weeks after baseline), follow-up (an average of 12 weeks after post-intervention)	change in score from baseline to post intervention (or follow-up) timepoint
walking speed for obstacle task negotiation task	baseline, post-intervention (an average of 6 weeks after baseline), follow-up (an average of 12 weeks after post-intervention)	change in walking speed from baseline to post intervention (or follow-up) timepoint

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Brooks Rehabilitation; 🇺🇸 Jacksonville, Florida, United States

University of Florida; 🇺🇸 Gainesville, Florida, United States