Fit & Active Seniors Trial

Summary

The investigators propose to test the hypothesis that a six-month intervention of combined fitness and cognitive training in the form of dancing will have a significant positive effect on a variety of executive control and memory processes as well as brain structure and function as compared to a non-aerobic strength and balance control/comparison group. Additionally, these two groups will be compared to walking groups in which one of the walking groups will also be provided with a daily, liquid, milk-based nutritional supplement.

Conditions

• Aging

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Dance Group

Participants will be instructed and learn various forms of dance (i.e. English country, folk, ballroom) and will be led by trained dance instructors and exercise specialists. Participants will for one-hour sessions and meet three times per week for six months.

BEHAVIORAL

Strength, Stretching, Stability

Exercises focusing on strength, flexibility and balance will be performed at one-hour sessions held three times per week for six months. Classes are led by trained exercise specialists.

BEHAVIORAL

Walking

Participants in this moderate aerobic conditioning exercise program will be instructed in a walking program that focuses on having them walk within their target heart rate. They will be provided with heart rate monitors and pedometers for accurate record keeping. They will meet three times per week for one hour for six months. Warm up and cool down stretches will be a part of each walking session and sessions will be monitored and led by trained exercise specialists.

BEHAVIORAL

Walking + Nutrition

Participants in this moderate aerobic conditioning exercise program will be instructed in a walking program that focuses on having them walk within their target heart rate. They will be provided with heart rate monitors and pedometers for accurate record keeping. They will meet three times per week for one hour for six months. Warm up and cool down stretches will be a part of each walking session and sessions will be monitored and led by trained exercise specialists. These participants will also be provided with a daily nutritionally balanced liquid, milk-based supplement formula.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Arthur F Kramer, PhD · University of Illinois at Chicago

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

60 Years

Max Age

79 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2011-08-31

Primary Completion

2014-12-31

Completion

2014-12-31

Countries

• United States

Study Locations