AI-Based Fitness Apps for Cognitive Impairment

Overseen By Zan Gao, PhD

Age: 65+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Disqualifiers: Foreign residents, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

Duration: 6 months

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether fitness apps can help older adults living alone with memory issues stay active and improve their health. Participants will use various combinations of apps focusing on exercise motivation (a fitness app for self-efficacy), health education (a health education app targeting outcome expectations), and social support (a social network app for social support). Researchers aim to identify which app combination best supports physical activity and well-being. Ideal candidates are those aged 65 and older, living alone, experiencing mild memory decline, and currently exercising less than 150 minutes weekly. Participants need a smartphone and internet access to join the trial.

As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could enhance the quality of life for older adults.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on using fitness apps to increase physical activity, so it's unlikely that medication changes are required.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that fitness apps are generally safe and easy to use. For instance, one study found that a fitness app boosted users' confidence and encouraged more physical activity without causing major side effects. Another study on the ERVE app also reported positive outcomes for physical activity and confidence, supporting the safety of these apps.

Health education apps, designed to improve users' expectations about health outcomes, are also considered mostly safe. Although many of these apps haven't been fully tested for health results, they are designed to be easy to use and accessible, with no major safety issues reported.

Social network apps offering social support have been found to help with memory and social connections. A trial with a similar app showed it helped people with memory loss without causing significant problems. These apps aim to provide a safe and supportive space, reducing feelings of isolation without reports of harm.

Overall, these app-based tools appear safe and well-received by users. They aim to enhance physical activity, confidence, and social support with a low risk of side effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial's treatments?

Researchers are excited about AI-based fitness apps for cognitive impairment because they offer a new, tech-driven approach to boosting brain health. Unlike traditional treatments that often rely on medication or therapy, these apps focus on enhancing self-efficacy, setting realistic outcome expectations, and providing social support—all through the convenience of a smartphone. By integrating fitness routines with cognitive exercises and social networking, these apps aim to improve mental agility and social interaction, potentially offering a more holistic and accessible way to manage cognitive decline. This novel approach not only empowers users to take charge of their own health but also leverages the power of artificial intelligence to personalize experiences and track progress in real time.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for cognitive impairment?

This trial will evaluate the effectiveness of various combinations of AI-based fitness apps for cognitive impairment. Research has shown that fitness apps can enhance both physical and mental health. For instance, one study found that a fitness app helped people feel more capable of everyday activities, like climbing stairs. Other research suggests that regular use of a fitness app can boost emotional, social, and mental well-being. Health education apps, known as mHealth interventions, have positively affected health by lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. Additionally, social apps can enhance mental sharpness, as a strong social network is linked to a lower risk of mental decline. These findings suggest that using these apps together could help older adults with cognitive decline become more active and healthier overall. Participants in this trial will use different combinations of these apps to assess their impact on cognitive health. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for older adults living alone with cognitive decline who are able to use a fitness app and wearable device. They should be generally sedentary but interested in increasing physical activity. Participants must not have conditions that severely limit mobility or communication.

Inclusion Criteria

Participant must have mild cognitive decline (positive on the AD8 ≥2)

Participant must own an Android/Apple smartphone

Participant must currently participate in weekly moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) for less than 150 minutes

Exclusion Criteria

Foreign residents or visitors

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive AI-driven mHealth interventions using fitness wearables and app programs to promote physical activity and improve health outcomes

6 months

Baseline, 3 months (mid-point), and 6 months (end-point)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Fitness app for self-efficacy
• Health education app targeting outcome expectations
• Social network via app for social support

Trial Overview The study tests if using a fitness app, health education app, and social network can increase physical activity and improve health in elderly with cognitive decline. It will identify which combination of these tools works best over six months.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Access to application 3 only Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Condition 7: Participant are not provided with the prescription application, or the social application, but they are provided with the health tips application.

Group II: Access to application 2 only Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Condition 6: Participant are not provided with the prescription application, but they are provided with the social application, and they aren't provided with the health tips application.

Group III: Access to application 2 & 3 Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Condition 5: Participant are not provided with the prescription application, but they are provided with the social application, and the health tips application.

Group IV: Access to application 1 only Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Condition 4: Participant are provided with the prescription application, but aren't provided with the social application, and the health tips application.

Group V: Access to application 1 & 3 Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Condition 3: Participant are provided with the prescription application, and they aren't provided with the social application, but they are provided with the health tips application.

Group VI: Access to application 1 & 2 Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Condition 2: Participant are provided with the prescription application, social application, but they aren't provided with the health tips application.

Group VII: Access to all applications Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Condition 1: Participant are provided with the prescription application (application1), social application (application 2), and health tips application (application 3).

Group VIII: No access to any application Active Control 1 Intervention

Condition 8: Participant are not provided with the prescription application, or the social application, or with the health tips application.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Lead Sponsor

Trials

93

Recruited

19,500+

Arizona State University

Collaborator

Trials

311

Recruited

109,000+

Oregon Research Institute

Collaborator

Trials

87

Recruited

62,600+

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Collaborator

Trials

1,841

Recruited

28,150,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/12360723

The Effectiveness of an App-Based Fitness Program on ... The app-based physical activity intervention significantly increased the self-perceived ability to climb up stairs and carry something (odds ...

2. mhealth.jmir.org mhealth.jmir.org/2024/1/e49443

An Evaluation of the Effect of App-Based Exercise Prescription ... The findings suggest that RL can effectively increase both the intensity with which people exercise and their enjoyment of the sessions.

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/org/science/article/pii/S2561326X2500705X

User Engagement With and Perceived Impact of a Digital ... Greater use of the Elevate app was linked to self-reported improvements in cognitive skills, daily functioning, and overall mental fitness.

4. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41599-023-02011-3

A systematic review of intention to use fitness apps (2020– ... The aim of this study is to update a comprehensive evaluation of the literature published since 2020 on the desire to use and embrace fitness and physical ...

5. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1281323/full

Exercise or lie down? The impact of fitness app use on ... Long-term use of fitness app will improve people' s physical, emotional, social, and cognitive status and promote their wellbeing.

6. jmir.org jmir.org/2025/1/e64922

The Effectiveness of an App-Based Fitness Program on ... Objective: In this study, we aimed to investigate whether a newly developed app-based physical activity program improves self-perceived physical ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10704020/

Efficacy of smartphone application-based multi-domain ... A smartphone application-based cognitive training software program, BeauBrain Trainer (BBT), has been developed to provide better access to cognitive training ...

8. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1876382020313792

The Effect of the ERVE Smartphone App on Physical ... The ERVE smartphone-based app seems to be a promising tool to promote physical activity, improve the quality of life, increase self-efficacy beliefs.

9. link.springer.com link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11301-025-00537-1

Continued usage of mobile fitness applications Our study systematically reviews the antecedents and outcomes of mobile fitness applications' continued usage, offering both theoretical insights and practical ...

10. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03600545

Study Details | Brain Fitness APP for Aging With a Healthy ... These trials gather additional information about a drug's safety, efficacy, or optimal use. ... decline in individuals with mild cognitive impairment or dementia.