RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

Aerobic Exercise for Older Adults at Increased Risk of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

This study is investigating if regular exercise can help prevent memory problems and conditions like Alzheimer's disease in older adults. Many people are concerned about dementia, and scientists believe lifestyle choices, like staying active, could play a big role in protecting brain health. This research aims to understand how exercise might achieve this. If successful, the findings could help develop exercise guidelines to keep brains healthy for longer. Participants will engage in different types of exercise, and researchers will measure how this affects their memory and brain function, looking for long-term benefits.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

University of Calgary

Enrolment target

264

Start

01 Jan 2017

Estimated completion

31 Dec 2027

Alzheimer Disease Dementia

What is this study about?

Dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, is a major concern for many people as they get older. Currently, there's no cure, so understanding how to prevent it is really important. We already know that being physically active is good for your overall health, and there's growing evidence that it might also protect your brain. This study wants to find out more about how regular exercise could help prevent memory problems and diseases like Alzheimer's.

Researchers in this study believe that exercise helps keep your blood vessels healthy, especially those in your brain. Healthy blood flow to the brain is crucial for good memory and thinking skills. They will be looking closely at how exercise affects these blood vessels and how this, in turn, influences memory and other brain functions. They also want to understand if there are specific ways exercise works at a deeper level, like how it changes brain cells or how sleep is affected.

The ultimate goal of this research is to see if an exercise program can actually stop or slow down the development of memory problems and dementia in people who are already at a higher risk. If this study shows positive results, the exercise program could be adopted by healthcare providers to help many more people keep their brains healthy as they age. This is a big step towards finding practical ways to prevent these serious conditions.

Key takeaways

This study explores if exercise can prevent memory loss and dementia.
It focuses on older adults with mild memory concerns and risk factors.
Participants will follow a structured exercise program for six months.
Researchers will study how exercise affects brain health and memory.
The goal is to develop effective ways to prevent dementia through exercise.

Who may be eligible?

This study is looking for men and women between the ages of 50 and 80 who are not very active but are noticing some mild memory changes. These memory changes should not be strong enough to be considered dementia. You would also need to have at least one health factor that increases your risk for memory problems, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, being overweight, high cholesterol, or a history of smoking. We'd also check that you're well enough for an exercise program.

There are certain reasons why you might not be able to join. For example, if you've already been diagnosed with dementia, had a stroke, have a serious illness that limits your life expectancy, or are already taking part in another clinical study. It's also important that you can speak and read English fluently to understand all parts of the study.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 50 and 80 years old?
Do you feel your memory isn't quite as good as it used to be?
Are you currently not exercising regularly (less than 3 times a week, 20+ minutes)?
Do you have at least one health risk factor like high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol?
Do you have a personal doctor who can approve your participation in an exercise program?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

The study involves different exercise programs over six months. Some participants will do aerobic exercises (like brisk walking or swimming), while others will do stretching and strengthening exercises. You will have regular visits to the study clinic for assessments, which will include tests of your memory and thinking skills, and possibly some brain scans (MRI). We will also look at blood flow to your brain and check some other biological markers. After the six-month exercise period, we will continue to follow your progress for another 12 months to see if any benefits from exercise last over time. The total duration of your involvement could be up to 18 months, including follow-up.

Potential risks and benefits

Taking part in this study may offer benefits such as improving your fitness and potentially your memory, though we cannot guarantee specific results. All exercise programs carry a small risk of injury, and we will take precautions to make sure you exercise safely. There are also risks associated with assessments like MRI scans, although these are generally very safe. You are free to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

University of Calgary
Verified postcode
Calgary, Canada· Recruiting

Common questions

What kind of exercise will I be doing?

You will either be taking part in an aerobic exercise program, like brisk walking, or a program that focuses on stretching and strengthening your muscles.

How long will the study last?

You will be actively involved in an exercise program for six months, followed by another 12 months of follow-up checks to see how you're doing. So, it could be up to 18 months in total.

Will I know if I'm doing the aerobic or stretching exercise?

Participants will be assigned to one of the exercise groups by chance, like drawing names from a hat. You won't get to choose, and the researchers will tell you which group you are in.

What happens if I stop exercising after the study?

One part of the study is to see if the benefits of exercise continue even after the structured program ends. We hope that people will continue to be active, and we'll be checking in with you to understand this better.

Will I get paid to be in the study?

The study usually covers costs related to your participation, such as travel, but typically does not offer payment for your time. This information will be fully explained if you are invited to participate.

How to find out more

Marc J Poulin, PhD, DPhil

poulin@ucalgary.ca 403-220-8372 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.