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The SINgapore GERiatric Intervention Study to Reduce Cognitive Decline and Physical Frailty (SINGER) Study

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Cognitive Impairment
Neurocognitive Disorders
Mental Disorders
Brain Diseases
Central Nervous System Diseases
Cognition Disorder
Alzheimer Disease
Dementia
Nervous System Diseases
Vascular Cognitive Impairment
Interventions
Behavioral: Self-Guided Intervention
Behavioral: Structured Lifestyle Intervention
Registration Number
NCT05007353
Lead Sponsor
National University of Singapore
Brief Summary

A study in Finland found that a multidomain intervention of physical activity, nutritional guidance, cognitive training, social activities and management of vascular risk factors slowed cognitive decline in healthy older adults at increased risk of cognitive decline. A 6-month pilot study was initiated in Singapore, which demonstrated the cultural feasibility and practicality of the FINGER interventions and a set of locally adapted interventions in an Asian population. The SINGER study is a 2-year randomized controlled trial that aims to test the efficacy and safety of these lifestyle changes, including diet and cardiovascular risk factor management, cognitive and physical exercises, in delaying cognitive decline in older adults at risk of dementia.

Detailed Description

Results from a population-based 2-year clinical trial, the Finnish Geriatric Intervention Study to Prevent Cognitive Impairment and Disability (FINGER), demonstrated that a multidomain intervention of physical activity, nutritional guidance, cognitive training, social activities and management of vascular risk factors slowed cognitive decline in healthy older adults at increased risk of cognitive decline. Currently, no pharmacological treatment options that can rival these effects. Thus, there is an urgent need to test the generalizability, adaptability, and sustainability of these findings in Singaporean populations. A 6-month pilot study was initiated in Singapore, which demonstrated the cultural feasibility and practicality of the FINGER interventions and a set of locally adapted interventions in an Asian population. Hence, the next step was to conduct a larger scale SINGER trial to determine the efficacy of these interventions in Singapore. If the interventions are found to be effective and safe with high applicability and scalability, the study will provide important clinical and public health implications to a rapidly increasing ageing population.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
1200
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age 60-77 years
  • Able to understand English/Chinese
  • Risk of dementia: Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Incidence of Dementia (CAIDE) dementia risk score >6 indicating the presence of modifiable risk factors Modifiable lifestyle factors (fulfilling at least one of the following LIBRA index for diet, cognitive activity, physical activity)
  • Cognitive performance at the mean level or slightly lower than expected for age (MoCA ≥18, ≤27)
  • No plans to travel outside of Singapore for an extended period of time over the course of the study
  • Free of physical disabilities that preclude participation in the study
  • Willing to complete all study-related activities for 24 months
  • Willing to be randomized to either lifestyle intervention group
Exclusion Criteria
  • malignant diseases
  • dementia
  • substantial cognitive decline (MoCA<18)
  • major depression
  • symptomatic cardiovascular disease
  • revascularisation within 1 year
  • severe loss of vision, hearing or communicative ability
  • other conditions inhibiting from safe engagement in the prescribed intervention and other conditions preventing cooperation, as judged by the study physician

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Self-Guided InterventionSelf-Guided InterventionGeneral health information provided to participants.
Structured Lifestyle InterventionStructured Lifestyle InterventionStructured lifestyle modification program developed for participants targeting diet, physical exercise, cognitive training, and social stimulation.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Global CognitionUp to 2 years

Global cognition measured using the modified Neuropsychological Test Battery (mNTB) that includes: Visual Paired Associates, Logical Memory Recall of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning, Digit Span, Word and Category Fluency test, Trail Making Test, Letter Digit Substitution test.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
HeightUp to 2 years

Height is measured in metres.

Executive FunctionUp to 2 years

Executive function measured using mNTB subtests: Digit Span, Word and Category Fluency test, Trail Making Test Part B.

Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ)Up to 2 years

The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) measures physical activity across 3 domains: work, travel, and recreation, as well as average time per day spent in sedentary behavior. The GPAQ is scored based on a population's mean or median physical activity spent in physical activity or by classifying a certain percentage of a population as 'inactive' or 'insufficiently active'.

Changes in Lipid ProfileUp to 2 years

Vascular and metabolic risk factors measured by changes in lipid profile in mmol/L.

Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)Up to 2 years

The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is scored from 0 to 21. Higher scores indicate worse sleep quality.

Resource Use Inventory (RUI)Up to 2 years

The Resource Use Inventory (RUI) measures 4 domains: direct medical care, direct nonmedical care, informal care, and subjects' time use. The RUI is filled in based on the frequency and amount of resources used. If none were used, '00' is entered.

Hip and waist circumferenceUp to 2 years

Hip and waist circumference measured in centimetres.

Changes in Blood PressureUp to 2 years

Vascular and metabolic risk factors measured by changes in blood pressure in mmHg. Incident events using serious adverse event reports will also be assessed.

The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)Up to 2 years

The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) is scored from 0 to 15. Scores of 0-4 are considered normal, 5-8 indicate mild depression; 9-11 indicate moderate depression; and 12-15 indicate severe depression.

Prospective-Retrospective Memory QuestionnaireUp to 2 years

The Prospective-Retrospective Memory Questionnaire (PRMQ) is measured on a 5-point scale. Higher scores represent greater frequency of memory failures.

36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36)Up to 2 years

The 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) has eight domains. Each domain is scored from 0 to 100. Higher scores represent a more favourable health state.

Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB)Up to 2 years

The Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) is scored from 0 to 18. Higher scores reflect worse performance.

Physical Performance Test (PPT)Up to 2 years

The Physical Performance Test (PPT) is scored from 0 to 36. Higher scores represent better performance.

NeuroimagingUp to 2 years

Magnetic Resonance Imaging will be used to assess changes in brain structural integrity, grey matter volume loss, white matter microstructure degradation, and increase of cerebrovascular disease markers (CeVD). Vascular polygenic risk scores (PRS) and its association with neurodegeneration, CeVD burden and cognitive decline will be performed.

Episodic MemoryUp to 2 years

Episodic memory measured using mNTB subtests: Visual paired associates tests, Logical Memory immediate and delayed recall of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning test.

Processing SpeedUp to 2 years

Processing speed measured using mNTB subtests: Letter Digit Substitution test and Trail-Making Test Part A.

Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study Activities of Daily Living-Mild Cognitive Impairment-Activities of Daily Living Inventory (ADCS-MCI-ADL)Up to 2 years

The Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study Activities of Daily Living-Mild Cognitive Impairment-Activities of Daily Living Inventory (ADCS-MCI-ADL) is scored from 0 to 53. Higher scores reflect better performance.

Quality of Life Questionnaire (15D)Up to 2 years

The Quality of Life Questionnaire (15D) has a single index (15D score) on a 0-1 scale, which represents overall HRQoL (0 = being dead, 0.0162 = being unconscious or comatose, 1 = no problems on any dimension = 'full' HRQOL). This is calculated from the health state descriptive system by using a set of population-based preference or utility weights.

Leisure-Time Activities QuestionnaireUp to 2 years

The Leisure-Time Activities Questionnaire measures the frequency of engagement in the following activities: Health activities, Social activities, Productive activities, Fitness activities, Recreational activities, Any cognitively-stimulating activities. Scores are measured on a 3-point scale. Higher scores represent higher frequency of engagement in leisure-time activities.

WeightUp to 2 years

Weight is measured in kilograms.

Changes in Glucose RegulationUp to 2 years

Vascular and metabolic risk factors measured by changes in glucose regulation in mmol/L.

Blood BiomarkersUp to 2 years

Novel and accessible blood markers to monitor AD- and CeVD-associated pathologies will be measured. Plasma concentrations of cardiac markers (High-sensitive cardiac troponin T (hs Troponin T), N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and Growth/differentiation factor 15 (GDF 15)), and peripheral biomarkers of Aβ, tau and synaptic pathology, oxidative stress, endothelial/cardiovascular injury and degenerative protein modifications (DPMs) damaged proteins will be used.

Retinal Imaging MarkersBaseline only

Multimodal retinal imaging will be used to assess retinal structural, vascular and neuronal changes.

Trial Locations

Locations (3)

National University Hospital

🇸🇬

Singapore, Singapore

National University of Singapore, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine

🇸🇬

Singapore, Singapore

National Neuroscience Institute @ Tan Tock Seng Campus (NNI @ TTSH campus)

🇸🇬

Singapore, Singapore

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