Lifestyle Enriching Activities for Research in Neuroscience Intervention Trial: LEARNit Study



Status:Recruiting
Conditions:Healthy Studies
Therapuetic Areas:Other
Healthy:No
Age Range:60 - 80
Updated:6/16/2018
Start Date:July 2016
End Date:April 2020
Contact:Lisette Isenberg, PhD
Email:learnstudy@ini.usc.edu
Phone:323-442-0141

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The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of modifiable lifestyle factors including
exercise and healthy living on brain health. The investigators will compare 2 types of
interventions, moderate aerobic walking vs. healthy living education, over 6 months to
evaluate changes in brain health, cognition, and physical function in older adults with
cognitive concerns.

Cognitive decline in older adults is a major public health issue. The cost of caring for
older adults with substantial cognitive impairment, like those with Alzheimer's Disease in
the US is approximately $200 billion a year, causing major societal, economic, and caregiving
burden. Despite great advances towards diagnosing these problems, the discovery of effective
treatments has been minimal. Exploring non-pharmacological interventions, such as exercise
and healthy living, have gained momentum. These promising, modifiable lifestyle interventions
have the potential for delaying disease onset and slowing decline in cognition. However, the
therapeutic effect of lifestyle interventions in patients with mild cognitive impairment, a
prime intervention period for treatment, is not well understood. Therefore, in this study,
the investigators will examine brain, body, and cognitive changes in older adults who engage
in moderate-aerobic walking or healthy living education.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male or female

2. English-speaking

3. 60-80 years old

4. Exhibits sedentary behavior

5. Subjective or objective cognitive impairment

6. Mini-Mental State Exam score > 26

7. Perform at least 1 standard deviations below normative values on cognitive tests

8. Absence of dementia

9. Modified Hachinski score < 4

10. Ability to complete both MRI and PET scans

11. Physically capable of completing health programs

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Baseline dementia

2. History of a neurological disorder

3. Current psychiatric illness

4. Head trauma with a loss of consciousness > 10 minutes

5. Severe sensory deficits

6. Substance abuse

7. Depression

8. Inability to perform intervention (e.g., inability to walk without assistance)

9. Contraindications to MRI scan (e.g., pacemaker)
We found this trial at
1
site
Los Angeles, California 90033
213) 740-2311
Phone: 323-442-7246
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