The Heart & Mind Study

Summary

Older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) may represent a portion of the population experiencing early sings of cognitive decline. Systolic hypertension is a major contributor to cognitive impairment. High-intensity aerobic interval training (HIT) yields greater fitness and vascular health improvements compared to moderate-intensity aerobic continuous training (MCT). No randomized controlled trials, however, have investigated the effects HIT or MCT on cognition in older adults with hypertension and SCD. Much less is known regarding whether combining HIT or MCT with mind-motor training would culminate additive benefits to cognition. Therefore, the overarching goal of our research is to deliver a group-based exercise program combining mind-motor training with HIT or MCT to older adults with hypertension and SCD. Participants will be randomized into two groups. Participants in both groups will receive 15 minutes of square stepping exercise (SSE) followed by either 45 minutes of HIT (N=70) or 45 minutes of MCT (N=70). In total, both groups will exercise 60 min/day, 3 days/week for 6 months. The effects of both interventions will be evaluated on systolic and diastolic office/ambulatory blood pressure and global and domain-specific cognitive functioning.

Conditions

• Hypertension
• Cognitive Decline
• Vascular Cognitive Impairment

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

High-intensity Interval Training (HIT)

Following the mind-motor training component, participants in the experimental group will then continue in the 45-minute HIT intervention, which will be composed by a 10-minute warm-up, a 25-minute core activity, and a 10-minute cool down. The 25-minute core activity will be carried out based on a 4 x 4 minutes aerobic interval training model. The intensity in each cycle will be prescribed at an individual level, and training heart rates will be determined via a sub-maximal excise testing at baseline and monitored during exercise using a wrist-based heart rate monitor (Suunto). In order to ensure progression in aerobic training over the 6-month intervention, training heart rates will be recalculated at the intervention midpoint (i.e., 3 months), where a new sub-maximal exercise test will be performed. Participants will exercise 60 minutes/day, 3 days/week for 6 months.

BEHAVIORAL

Moderate-intensity Continuous Training (MCT)

After the mind-motor training component, participants in the comparison/control group will then continue in the 45-min MCT intervention, which will be composed by a 10-minute warm-up a 25-minute moderate-intensity continuous aerobic exercise training, and a 10-minute cool down. The exercise intensity will be prescribed at an individual level, and training heart rates will be determined via a sub-maximal excise testing at baseline and monitored during exercise using a wrist-based heart rate monitor (Suunto). In order to ensure progression in aerobic training over the 6-month intervention, training heart rates will be recalculated at the intervention midpoint (i.e., 3 months), where a new sub-maximal exercise test will be performed. Participants will exercise 60 minutes/day, 3 days/week for 6 months.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Western University, Canada

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Robert Petrella, MD, PhD · Study Principal Investigator

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

55 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-11-15

Primary Completion

2020-03-21

Completion

2020-03-21

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations