Physical Activity for Alzheimer's Disease

(RAATE-MCI Trial)

Overseen By Callie Hebert, MS

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Disqualifiers: Dementia, Uncontrolled hypertension, Recent heart surgery, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 52 weeks

144 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Physical activity program for Alzheimer's Disease?

Research shows that exercise programs can help improve daily living activities, physical performance, and reduce depression in people with Alzheimer's disease. These programs can also enhance functional capacity and mobility, making everyday tasks easier for those affected. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is physical activity safe for people with Alzheimer's disease?

Research indicates that exercise programs, including home-based ones, are generally safe for people with Alzheimer's disease, with studies focusing on their feasibility and safety. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

How is the physical activity program treatment for Alzheimer's disease different from other treatments?

The physical activity program for Alzheimer's disease is unique because it focuses on improving patients' functional abilities and independence through regular exercise, which can be done at home or in care settings, making it more accessible and easier for caregivers to manage compared to traditional medical treatments. ^{1 2 4 9 10}

What is the purpose of this trial?

The RAATE-MCI proposal is designed to determine the effects of physical activity on risk factors for Alzheimer's Disease in older African American adults. The study will compare a physical activity program to an active control group. RAATE-MCI is a 52-week randomized controlled trial. 144 African American adults aged 60 and older will be recruited.

Research Team

Robert L Newton, Jr., PhD

Principal Investigator

Pennington Biomedical Research

Owen Carmichael, PhD

Principal Investigator

Pennington Biomedical Research

Eligibility Criteria

The RAATE-MCI trial is for African American adults aged 60 or older who self-identify as such, are willing to be randomly assigned to groups, can attend sessions and travel within the study area for a year. They must be physically able to exercise but not currently active, have mild cognitive impairment without severe dementia, and agree to data use after the study.

Inclusion Criteria

Physically capable of exercise

Free of conditions that would make regular exercise unsafe as deemed by the medical investigator

Willing to accept randomization

Exclusion Criteria

I am not willing to sign consent or be randomly assigned to a study group.

I am currently in a heart and lung rehab program.

My diabetes is not under control.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants are assigned to either a physical activity intervention or a successful aging group for 52 weeks

52 weeks

Regular sessions at Pennington Biomedical or local community facilities

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Physical activity program
• Successful Aging

Trial Overview This trial tests if physical activity affects Alzheimer's risk factors in older African Americans. Participants will either join a physical activity program or an active control group for one year. The goal is to see how exercise influences cognitive health compared with usual activities.

Participant Groups

Group I: Successful Aging Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Low intensity activity program and a healthy aging educational component

Group II: Physical Activity Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

150 minutes of physical activity weekly

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Pennington Biomedical Research Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

314

Recruited

183,000+

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Collaborator

Trials

1,841

Recruited

28,150,000+

Findings from Research

A home-based exercise program for patients with Alzheimer's Disease (AD) showed good adherence and a trend towards improved functional performance, particularly in hand function and lower extremity strength, after 6 and 12 weeks.

Despite the positive trends in functional performance, there were also indications of worse depression and lower quality of life ratings among participants, suggesting the need for further research to optimize the intervention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of a home-based exercise program in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: the Maximizing Independence in Dementia (MIND) study. Steinberg, M., Leoutsakos, JM., Podewils, LJ., et al.[2022]

A 12-month exercise program consisting of walking, strength, balance, and flexibility training significantly slowed the decline in the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs) in 134 patients with Alzheimer's disease compared to routine medical care.

The exercise program also improved physical performance, as evidenced by better 6-meter walking speed, with no adverse effects reported, highlighting its safety and potential benefits for this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise program for nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease: a 1-year randomized, controlled trial. Rolland, Y., Pillard, F., Klapouszczak, A., et al.[2022]

A systematic review of 13 randomized controlled trials involving 811 older adults with Alzheimer's disease found that multimodal exercise significantly improves activities of daily living (ADLs), suggesting it is beneficial for functional capacity in this population.

While multimodal exercise showed positive effects on ADLs, other types of exercise like aerobic and resistance training did not demonstrate significant improvements in mobility, muscle strength, or flexibility, highlighting the importance of tailored exercise programs for older adults with cognitive impairments.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of physical exercise at improving functional capacity in older adults living with Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Braz de Oliveira, MP., Moreira Padovez, RFC., Serrão, PRMDS., et al.[2023]

In a randomized controlled trial involving 82 long-term care residents with Alzheimer's disease, an activity-specific exercise program significantly improved participants' ability to perform transfers compared to a walking program and an attention control group, which both showed declines.

This study suggests that targeted exercise interventions can enhance basic mobility skills in individuals with Alzheimer's disease, highlighting the potential for tailored physical activity to support functional independence in this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized controlled trial of an activity specific exercise program for individuals with Alzheimer disease in long-term care settings. Roach, KE., Tappen, RM., Kirk-Sanchez, N., et al.[2021]

Physical exercise may offer significant physical and mental benefits for individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD), potentially addressing some of the metabolic and neuropathological changes associated with the condition.

The article reviews clinical studies that support the role of structured physical exercise programs in the treatment of AD, providing guidance on how to effectively prescribe these programs for older adults with dementia.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Benefits of physical exercise for older adults with Alzheimer's disease. Pérez, CA., Cancela Carral, JM.[2008]

In a review of 63 articles from AARP magazines, only 3 English articles mentioned that physical activity (PA) could reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD), while no Spanish articles made this connection.

The study highlights a significant gap in cognitive health information in Spanish-language media, indicating a need for culturally relevant content to better inform diverse populations about the benefits of physical activity in relation to Alzheimer's disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

What are older Latinos told about physical activity and cognition? A content analysis of a top-circulating magazine. Rose, ID., Friedman, DB., Marquez, DX., et al.[2021]

Exercise interventions have been shown to significantly improve physical fitness in community-dwelling adults with Alzheimer's disease, based on a review of 17 studies involving 1,068 participants.

While some studies indicated potential benefits for cognitive function, the evidence is less conclusive, highlighting the need for further research to confirm these effects and explore the mechanisms behind different types of exercise.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An integrative review of exercise interventions among community-dwelling adults with Alzheimer's disease. Li, B., Liu, C., Wan, Q., et al.[2020]

A six-month home-based exercise program for 40 individuals with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease was found to be feasible and safe, with 58% of participants completing the program without any reported adverse events.

Participants in the exercise group showed significant improvements in balance and mobility, as evidenced by a notable increase in Functional Reach and a reduction in falls risk compared to those in the control group.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility, safety and preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of a home-based exercise programme for older people with Alzheimer's disease: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Suttanon, P., Hill, KD., Said, CM., et al.[2022]

A 7-week physical exercise program for 23 elderly patients with Alzheimer's disease led to significant improvements in nutritional status and cognitive function, as measured by the MNA and MMS scales, respectively.

The program also resulted in a reduced risk of falls and fewer behavioral problems, suggesting that physical activity can be a beneficial therapeutic strategy for managing Alzheimer's disease complications.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility [corrected] of regular physical exercise for patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer disease. Rolland, Y., Rival, L., Pillard, F., et al.[2019]

A home-based multimodal exercise program for 40 older adults with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease is expected to improve muscle strength, balance, cognition, and overall functioning after 16 weeks of training.

The study aims to provide a foundation for future clinical interventions and health promotion strategies tailored for older individuals with Alzheimer's, highlighting the potential benefits of at-home exercise for this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Home-based multimodal exercise program in older people with Alzheimer disease: Randomized controlled trial protocol. Cezar, NOC., Ansai, JH., de Andrade, LP.[2021]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of a home-based exercise program in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease: the Maximizing Independence in Dementia (MIND) study. [2022]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise program for nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease: a 1-year randomized, controlled trial. [2022]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of physical exercise at improving functional capacity in older adults living with Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. [2023]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A randomized controlled trial of an activity specific exercise program for individuals with Alzheimer disease in long-term care settings. [2021]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Benefits of physical exercise for older adults with Alzheimer's disease. [2008]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

What are older Latinos told about physical activity and cognition? A content analysis of a top-circulating magazine. [2021]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An integrative review of exercise interventions among community-dwelling adults with Alzheimer's disease. [2020]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility, safety and preliminary evidence of the effectiveness of a home-based exercise programme for older people with Alzheimer's disease: a pilot randomized controlled trial. [2022]

9. France pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility [corrected] of regular physical exercise for patients with moderate to severe Alzheimer disease. [2019]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Home-based multimodal exercise program in older people with Alzheimer disease: Randomized controlled trial protocol. [2021]