R01AG070036

Differential Effects of Exercise Modality on Cognition and Brain in Older Adults - Project Summary

Older adults often experience physical decline that can be directly ameliorated by physical activity and exercise. Evidence is building that exercise prevents cognitive decline or delays the onset of debilitating dementia (e.g. Alzheimer's disease [AD]). Yet, the optimal dose and combination of exercise modalities for promoting brain health, however, remains unknown and essentially untested.

Our long-term research goal is to develop and test strategies to support successful aging and prevent AD. We have successful ongoing (R01AG053312, R01AG053952, R01AG049749, R01AG52954, R01AG043962) and completed projects (R01AG033673, R01AG034614, KL2TR000119) around a theme of community-based exercise programs for older adults.

We will enroll 280 individuals, age 65 to 80 years without cognitive impairment, into a 52-week exercise intervention to test the combined and independent effects of aerobic and resistance training on cognition, brain structure, and physical function. We will also explore underlying biological mechanisms that may link exercise with brain health.

Participants will be randomized into 1 of 4 groups: flexibility, toning and balance (control), aerobic exercise training, progressive resistance training, or combined aerobic and resistance training. All intervention groups represent the most common modalities of exercise and directly reflect the public health recommendations for aerobic and resistance training.

Exercise training will occur in a community setting through the network of Greater Kansas City YMCAs. We hypothesize that 52 weeks of exercise will improve 1) cognitive performance, 2) regional brain volume, 3) cardiorespiratory fitness and strength, and 4) biomarkers. This will be the largest study to assess the combined and independent effects of the two most recommended forms of exercise.

Demonstrating specific exercise effects on cognitive function and brain health in older adults would have enormous public health implications. The study's results will also impact public health policy and education by providing evidence towards the specific or synergistic effects of aerobic and resistance training on cognition and brain structure.

Encouraging the public to adapt more active lifestyles and stimulate the development of effective exercise delivery programs to enhance initiation and maintenance of physical activity interventions is key to increasing the number of quality years of life for America's aging population.

University Of Kansas Medical Center Research Institute

TO ENCOURAGE BIOMEDICAL, SOCIAL, AND BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH AND RESEARCH TRAINING DIRECTED TOWARD GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE AGING PROCESS AND THE DISEASES, SPECIAL PROBLEMS, AND NEEDS OF PEOPLE AS THEY AGE. THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING HAS ESTABLISHED PROGRAMS TO PURSUE THESE GOALS. THE DIVISION OF AGING BIOLOGY EMPHASIZES UNDERSTANDING THE BASIC BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES OF AGING. THE DIVISION OF GERIATRICS AND CLINICAL GERONTOLOGY SUPPORTS RESEARCH TO IMPROVE THE ABILITIES OF HEALTH CARE PRACTITIONERS TO RESPOND TO THE DISEASES AND OTHER CLINICAL PROBLEMS OF OLDER PEOPLE. THE DIVISION OF BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL RESEARCH SUPPORTS RESEARCH THAT WILL LEAD TO GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SOCIAL, CULTURAL, ECONOMIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS THAT AFFECT BOTH THE PROCESS OF GROWING OLD AND THE PLACE OF OLDER PEOPLE IN SOCIETY. THE DIVISION OF NEUROSCIENCE FOSTERS RESEARCH CONCERNED WITH THE AGE-RELATED CHANGES IN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE RELATED SENSORY, PERCEPTUAL, AND COGNITIVE PROCESSES ASSOCIATED WITH AGING AND HAS A SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PROGRAM: TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE THE SBIR PROGRAM, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TO INCREASE SMALL BUSINESS PARTICIPATION IN FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION. SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (STTR) PROGRAM: TO STIMULATE AND FOSTER SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH COOPERATIVE RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT CARRIED OUT BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO FOSTER TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER BETWEEN SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS, TO INCREASE PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIALIZATION OF INNOVATIONS DERIVED FROM FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND TO FOSTER AND ENCOURAGE PARTICIPATION OF SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS AND WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESS CONCERNS IN TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION.

93.866 - Aging Research

National Institute on Aging (NIA) [HHS - NIH]

Kansas City, Kansas 66160 United States

Single Zip Code

Early Stage Clinical Trials for the Spectrum of Alzheimers Disease and Age-related Cognitive Decline (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) (PAR-18-877)

Amendment Since initial award the total obligations have increased 403% from $1,375,262 to $6,923,080.