Increasing Physical Activity Through Social Support and Stress Resilience

Launched by ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY · Mar 20, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring ways to help older adults who live alone and feel like their memory is not as good as it used to be. The study aims to see if using technology, along with simple education and support, can increase their physical activity levels. Participants will either receive basic information or have access to extra tools like a website and virtual coaching to help them set goals and track their progress. The researchers want to find out if these tech tools can lead to more physical activity, better social support, and greater resilience to stress over time.

To be eligible, participants should be 60 years or older, living alone, and currently active for 60 minutes or less each week. They should also feel they are experiencing some decline in their thinking abilities and be comfortable using a smartphone. Those who join will wear a device to track their activity, set achievable goals aimed at reaching 150 minutes of activity each week, and fill out surveys about their social support and overall well-being. The study is not yet recruiting participants, but it has the potential to help improve the health and quality of life for older adults at risk for developing dementia.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Aged 60 years or older
• • Living alone and community dwelling
• • Engaging in 60 minutes or less per week of self-reported moderate-to-vigorous physical activity at screening (based on Exercise Vital Sign Questionnaire)
• • Self-reported decline in cognitive functioning
• • Self-reported ownership of/willingness to use a smartphone with an iOS or Android operating system (necessary for participants to track their activity using a wearable activity monitor).
• • Able to read and speak in English. We hope to offer the intervention in Spanish in the future; however, currently, the study materials are only available in English, and participation will require ability to read and respond to study materials.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Endorsing an item on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q), unless a physician's note is provided
• • Resting blood pressure greater than 200/110 mmHG as assessed at the baseline study assessment (unless a physician's note is provided)
• • Plans to relocate out of metropolitan Phoenix, Arizona area in the next 6 months
• • Participation in another physical activity, nutrition or weight loss program at time of screening or at any time during the intervention
• • Individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), as determined by either a self-report of receiving a diagnosis of MCI from a health care provider or as assessed by the Telephone-Montreal Cognitive Assessment (T-MoCA) at the Baseline Session. A score \< 19 is an exclusion criterion.
• • Individuals with neurodegenerative (e.g., dementia), developmental (e.g., autism), neurologic (e.g., Parkinson's, epilepsy), or major psychiatric (e.g., bipolar, schizophrenia) diagnoses
• • Being previously prescribed one of the 5 approved Alzheimer's medications, including: Donepezil (Aricept), Rivastigmine (Exelon), Galantamine (Razadyne), Memantine (Namenda), Memantine + Donepezil (Namzaric)
• • Score of 9 or higher on the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) at the Baseline Session \[scores of 9 and higher are indicative of moderate to severe depression\]
• • Currently taking 2 or more anti-depression medications
• • History of stroke
• • Incarcerated individuals (i.e., Prisoners)