1. Investigating gains in neurocognition in an Intervention Trial of Exercise (IGNITE): Protocol
- Author
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Erickson, K.I., Grove, G.A., Burns, J.M., Hillman, C.H., Kramer, A.F., McAuley, E., Vidoni, E.D., Becker, J.T., Butters, M.A., Gray, K., Huang, H., Jakicic, J.M., Kamboh, M.I., Kang, C., Klunk, W.E., Lee, P., Marsland, A.L., Mettenburg, J., Rogers, R.J., Stillman, C.M., Sutton, B.P., Szabo-Reed, A., Verstynen, T.D., Watt, J.C., Weinstein, A.M., Wollam, M.E., Erickson, K.I., Grove, G.A., Burns, J.M., Hillman, C.H., Kramer, A.F., McAuley, E., Vidoni, E.D., Becker, J.T., Butters, M.A., Gray, K., Huang, H., Jakicic, J.M., Kamboh, M.I., Kang, C., Klunk, W.E., Lee, P., Marsland, A.L., Mettenburg, J., Rogers, R.J., Stillman, C.M., Sutton, B.P., Szabo-Reed, A., Verstynen, T.D., Watt, J.C., Weinstein, A.M., and Wollam, M.E.
- Abstract
Despite the ubiquity of normal age-related cognitive decline there is an absence of effective approaches for improving neurocognitive health. Fortunately, moderate intensity exercise is a promising method for improving brain and cognitive health in late life, but its effectiveness remains a matter of skepticism and debate because of the absence of large, comprehensive, Phase III clinical trials. Here we describe the protocol for such a randomized clinical trial called IGNITE (Investigating Gains in Neurocognition in an Intervention Trial of Exercise), a study capable of more definitively addressing whether exercise influences cognitive and brain health in cognitively normal older adults. We are conducting a 12-month, multi-site, randomized dose-response exercise trial in 639 cognitively normal adults between 65 and 80 years of age. Participants are randomized to (1) a moderate intensity aerobic exercise condition of 150 min/week (N = 213), (2) a moderate intensity aerobic exercise condition at 225 min/week (N = 213), or (3) a light intensity stretching-and-toning control condition for 150 min/week (N = 213). Participants are engaging in 3 days/week of supervised exercise and two more days per week of unsupervised exercise for 12 months. A comprehensive cognitive battery, blood biomarkers and battery of psychosocial questionnaires is assessed at baseline, 6 and 12-months. In addition, brain magnetic resonance imaging, physiological biomarkers, cardiorespiratory fitness, physical function, and positron emission tomography of amyloid deposition are assessed at baseline and at the 12-month follow-up. The results from this trial could transform scientific-based policy and health care recommendations for approaches to improve cognitive function in cognitively normal older adults.
- Published
- 2019