Effects of Strengthening Exercise on the Brain for Early Dementia and Normative Older Adults

Not Applicable

Completed

Conditions: Cognitive Decline
Alzheimer's Disease
Mild Cognitive Impairment
Dementia

Interventions: Behavioral: Strengthening exercise

Registration Number: NCT01264614

Lead Sponsor: Union College, New York

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.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 22

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

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Normative older adults	Strengthening exercise	Normative older adults with no known neurological condition. Participants engaged in a strengthening exercise program three to five times per week for 10 weeks.
Early stage dementia	Strengthening exercise	Individuals with early stage dementia who attended a Adult Day Care Program at least twice a week. Participants engaged in a strengthening exercise program three to five times per week for 10 weeks.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Digits Backwards Test Performance From Pre- to Post-intervention	Baseline and 3 months	Average raw cognitive scores before (T1) and after (T2) strengthening exercise intervention. Higher scores represent better performance (Digits backwards possible score range is 0-14 points).
Fuld Test Performance From Pre- to Post-intervention	Baseline and 3 months	Average raw cognitive scores before (T1) and after (T2) strengthening exercise intervention. Higher scores represent better performance (Fuld Semantic Recall possible score range is 0-20 points; Fuld Immediate and Delayed Recall possible score range is 0-10).
Neurophysiological Function Pre- & Post- Intervention	Baseline and 3 months	Resting EEG and ERP recordings before (T1) and after (T2) strengthening exercise intervention
Stroop Test Performance From Pre- to Post-intervention	Baseline and 3 months	Average raw cognitive scores before (T1) and after (T2) strengthening exercise intervention. Lower scores on Stroop C (possible range 0-240 sec) represents better performance).
Color Trails Test Performance From Pre- to Post-intervention	Baseline and 3 months	Average raw cognitive scores before (T1) and after (T2) strengthening exercise intervention. Higher scores represent better performance (Color Trails possible score range is 0-300 seconds).
Figure Copy & Delayed Test Performance From Pre- to Post-intervention	Baseline and 3 months	Average raw cognitive scores before (T1) and after (T2) strengthening exercise intervention. Higher scores represent better performance (Figure Copy \& Delayed possible score range is 0-36 points).