Rhythm Experience and Africana Culture Trial

NCT03771716 | Completed Results DMC

• 2 other identifiers: STUDY190202631R01AG060741-01
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 151
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

REACT is a randomized intervention to examine the benefits of African Dance as a method to increase physical activity behaviors in older adults. In this 6- month intervention, older African Americans will be randomly assigned to either an African Dance or an Africana Culture class. Both before and at the completion of the intervention, the investigators will collect a comprehensive neuropsychological battery and MRI scans of brain health and function to better study how physical activity influences neurocognitive health in African Americans.

Conditions

Cognitive Performance; Brain Structure

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Flanker Performance

  A Flanker Inhibitory Control and Attention task will be administered at baseline, and then following the intervention (6 months). The main outcome from this task is the computed score from the NIH Toolbox, which reflects the participant's ability to inhibit responses to irrelevant information while focusing attention on a target stimulus. In each trial, participants make a directional response to a center arrow when the flanking arrows are arranged in congruent vs. incongruent direction from the center stimulus. The computed score combines accuracy and reaction time into a single performance metric, ranging from 0 to 10, with higher values indicating better performance. Group differences will be tested on this outcome.

  Changes from baseline to 6-months

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Hippocampal Volume (mm3)

  Changes from baseline to 6-months

Other Outcomes (44)

• Change in Cognitive Function

  Changes from baseline to 6-months

• Medication Use

  Changes from baseline to 6-months

• Cardiorespiratory Fitness

  Changes from baseline to 6-months

Study Arms (2)

African Dance

EXPERIMENTAL

This is the experimental group. Dance classes will be held 3 times per week for 1 hour. Participants will learn traditional Africana dance moves and sequences.

Behavioral: African Dance

African Cultural Immersion

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

This is the active control group. Participants will participate in a variety of educational activities related to African Culture, including traditional cooking, lectures, crafts, music and films. They will meet 3 times per week for the same duration as the Dance group. However, they will not participate in aerobic activity during the classes, and most activities will be conducted in a seated position.

Behavioral: African Cultural Immersion

Interventions

African Dance BEHAVIORAL

Basic principles and guidelines for exercise programming will be followed including adequate warm-up and cool-down, progressive and gradual increments in duration, and instruction regarding avoidance of physical activity (PA) related injury. The African dance group will receive moderate intensity dance 1 hour per day, twice per week, for 6 months. The prescribed intensity will begin at light to moderate and progress to a moderate to high intensity level. Frequent assessment of heart rate and ratings of perceived exertion will ensure appropriate levels of intensity during each dance session. Levels of exertion during the dance will be prescribed and monitored based on baseline assessments of heart rate and cardiorespiratory fitness.

Also known as: Dance Group

African Dance

African Cultural Immersion BEHAVIORAL

The Culture group will participate in activities, including cooking, art and games, music, traditional crafts, and lectures and discussions about other aspects of Africana culture and customs. Topics will vary from session to session to maintain interest and engagement. The sessions will be held in a small group format and will be lead my personnel with training in each topic. Participants will meet 1 hour per day, 3 times per week, for 6 months.

Also known as: Culture Group

African Cultural Immersion

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 60 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• self identifies race as African American
• between 60 and 80 years of age
• ambulatory without pain or the assistance of walking devices
• no history of falls or balance problems
• able to speak and read English
• available during the times classes are offered and able to make at least 80% of classes (e.g., no long-term travel plans)
• reliable means of transportation
• scores above the range on the Brief Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS) indicative of moderate to severe cognitive impairment (scores 21 or above)
• no diagnosis of a neurological disease or psychiatric conditions
• eligible to undergo MRI (not claustrophobic and no metal or history of injury involving metal).
• Fully vaccinated for coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

You may not qualify if:

• self identifies race as other than African American
• not between 60 and 80 years of age
• not ambulatory without pain or the assistance of walking devices
• history of falls or balance problems
• unable to speak and read English
• unavailable during the times classes are offered or unable to make at least 80% of classes (e.g., indicates long-term travel plans during intervention period)
• no reliable means of transportation
• scores in range on the TICS indicative of moderate to severe cognitive impairment (scores 21 or below)
• has a diagnosis of a neurological disease or psychiatric condition
• ineligible to undergo MRI (claustrophobic and/or metal in body or history of injury involving metal).

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Pittsburgh: lead
• National Institute on Aging (NIA): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15260, United States

Location

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Dr. Kirk I. Erickson
• Organization: AdventHealth Research Institute

Kirk.Erickson@adventhealth.com

4125763724

Study Officials

• Kirk I Erickson, PhD

  University of Pittsburgh

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: No
• Restrictive Agreement: No

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Neither the investigator, nor outcomes assessors will know participants' group assignments. Participants will be instructed to refrain from speaking about their group's activities when visiting the lab for follow-up assessment. In addition, special care was taken to ensure that non-blinded laboratory staff (e.g., staff member notifying participants of their group assignments, staff monitoring the intervention classes) are not located in the same proximity in the laboratory, further preventing accidental unblinding.
• Purpose: BASIC SCIENCE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Model Details: 180 African American older adults between the ages of 60-80 will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: African Dance or Africana Culture. Both groups will meet 3 times per week for 1 hour over a period of 6-months. Cognitive and brain metrics will be assessed at baseline and following the completion of the intervention.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 30, 2018
• First Posted: December 11, 2018
• Study Start: May 21, 2019
• Primary Completion: July 25, 2024
• Study Completion: August 16, 2024
• Last Updated: August 13, 2025
• Results First Posted: August 13, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)