Physical and Cognitive Aging Study in Older Adults

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · Dec 9, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The Physical and Cognitive Aging Study in Older Adults is researching how physical activity and exercise can affect cognitive health in older Hispanic Americans, who are at a higher risk for developing conditions like Alzheimer's disease. The study aims to understand how both physical and mental aging can be linked and hopes to gather information that could help reduce the risk of dementia in this growing population.

To participate, individuals must be between 55 and 85 years old, identify as Hispanic American, and speak Spanish as their primary language. They should also have no signs of dementia or mild cognitive impairment. Participants will be asked to take part in assessments that evaluate their physical and cognitive abilities. It’s important to note that those with certain health conditions or disabilities may not be eligible for the study. Overall, this research is a step towards understanding how to better support older adults in maintaining both their physical and mental health as they age.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • • Hispanic and non-Hispanic adults age 55-85 years, at least 8th grade education, community dwelling.
• • Additional Inclusion for Hispanic Americans
• • Self-identify as Hispanic American
• • Report Spanish as primary language • No evidence of dementia or mild cognitive impairment based on cognitive screening \[i.e., Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) administered during Visit 1; ≥26 among non-Hispanic White, ≥25 among Hispanics, ≥24 among non-Hispanic Blacks (Milani et al., 2018)\]
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Inability to provide informed consent
• • Artificial joint or severe disability that would make it impossible or contraindicated performing the isokinetic test
• • Sensory loss (vision, hearing) or motor deficits that would preclude participation in the experimental tasks or neuropsychological assessment
• • Previous major strokes or other known significant brain abnormalities or diseases affecting the brain and/or cognition (e.g., Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis, seizure disorder, brain surgery, moderate TBI, REM Behavior Sleep Disorder, untreated sleep apnea, etc.)
• • Unstable and uncontrolled medical conditions (metastatic cancer, HIV, moderate-severe kidney disease, uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension, severe cardiac disease, etc.). No current cancer diagnosis.
• • Current or past history of major psychiatric disturbance including schizophrenia, or active psychosis, bipolar disorder, current major depressive episode, current alcohol or substance abuse or history thereof within the past six months
• • Use of antipsychotics, sedatives, or other medications with significant anticholinergic properties (due to potential influence on memory)
• • Use of prescribed 'memory enhancing' medications, such as Aricept or Namenda
• • Previous participation in a cognitive or physical activity training study within the last 6 months or current involvement in another study involving cognitive, physical or other intervention at the time of enrollment