Supporting Aging Through Green Exercise (SAGE)

NCT05036304 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: H21-00406
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 72
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Aerobic exercise is an evidence-based approach to mitigate cognitive decline in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Emerging evidence suggests that the cognitive benefits of exercise may be enhanced when performed in outdoor, natural settings, as compared to indoor or built settings. Thus, the investigators aim to compare the effects of outdoor versus indoor walking programs on cognitive function among older adults with MCI. Secondary outcomes are motor function, emotional well-being, health-related behaviours, and quality of life. Participants will be randomly assigned to a 12--week, 3x/week program of either outdoor walking on forest trails or indoor walking on a treadmill. A 3-month followup will also be completed after trial completion.

Conditions

Mild Cognitive Impairment; Aging

Keywords

green space; cognitive function; aerobic exercise

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Change in List Sorting Performance

  This is a measure of working memory

  Baseline to 12 weeks

• Change in Digits Span Forwards and Backwards

  This is a measure of working memory.

  Baseline to 12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (18)

• Change in NIH Toolbox Cognitive Battery Performance

  Baseline to 12 weeks

• Change in Digit Symbol Substitute Test

  Baseline to 12 weeks

• Change in the Short Physical Performance Battery

  Baseline to 12 weeks

• Change in Timed Up and Go Test

  Baseline to 12 weeks

• Change in State-Trait Anxiety Inventory

  Baseline to 12 weeks and 6 months

Study Arms (2)

Aerobic Exercise Indoors

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Each session will consist of 10 min of warm-up, 40 min of aerobic exercise, and 10 min of cool-down. Aerobic exercise will be progressive and of moderate intensity. During training, each participant will wear a heart rate monitor and will be asked to work initially at approximately 45% of his/her target heart rate (i.e., heart rate reserve (HRR)) and gradually progress to reach the target of 70% of HRR over the 12-week study period. Participants will also subjectively monitor workout intensity using the 20-point Borg's Rating of Perceived Exertion. Participants will walk or jog on treadmills or cycle on stationary bikes in the Exercise Prescription Suite of the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility.

Other: Aerobic Exercise Indoors

Aerobic Exercise Outdoors

EXPERIMENTAL

Each session will consist of 10 min of warm-up, 40 min of aerobic exercise, and 10 min of cool-down. Aerobic exercise will be progressive and of moderate intensity. During training, each participant will wear a heart rate monitor and will be asked to work initially at approximately 45% of his/her target heart rate (i.e., heart rate reserve (HRR)) and gradually progress to reach the target of 70% of HRR over the 12-week study period. Participants will also subjectively monitor workout intensity using the 20-point Borg's Rating of Perceived Exertion. participants will walk or jog pre-determined routes in trails of an urban forest (Pacific Spirit Park).

Other: Aerobic Exercise Outdoors

Interventions

Aerobic Exercise Indoors OTHER

Each session will consist of 10 min of warm-up, 40 min of aerobic exercise, and 10 min of cool-down. Aerobic exercise will be progressive and of moderate intensity. During training, each participant will wear a heart rate monitor and will be asked to work initially at approximately 45% of his/her target heart rate (i.e., heart rate reserve (HRR)) and gradually progress to reach the target of 70% of HRR over the 12-week study period. Participants will also subjectively monitor workout intensity using the 20-point Borg's Rating of Perceived Exertion. Participants will walk or jog on treadmills or cycle on stationary bikes in the Exercise Prescription Suite of the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility.

Aerobic Exercise Indoors

Aerobic Exercise Outdoors OTHER

Each session will consist of 10 min of warm-up, 40 min of aerobic exercise, and 10 min of cool-down. Aerobic exercise will be progressive and of moderate intensity. During training, each participant will wear a heart rate monitor and will be asked to work initially at approximately 45% of his/her target heart rate (i.e., heart rate reserve (HRR)) and gradually progress to reach the target of 70% of HRR over the 12-week study period. Participants will also subjectively monitor workout intensity using the 20-point Borg's Rating of Perceived Exertion. Participants will walk or jog pre-determined routes in trails of an urban forest (Pacific Spirit Park)

Aerobic Exercise Outdoors

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• achieve a score ≥18/30 and ≤24/30 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment
• have subjective cognitive impairment based on interview
• have no significant impairment in daily function, as determined by a score ≥6/8 on the Lawton and Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale
• no diagnosis of dementia
• aged 65 to 80 years old
• live independently in their own home
• live in the Greater Vancouver area
• read, write, and speak English with acceptable visual and auditory acuity
• are cleared to start a supervised exercise programme based on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire for Everyone
• able to walk independently
• able to provide informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• participating in regular moderate to vigorous intensity aerobic exercise in the last 3 months
• planning to enroll in a concurrent exercise or drug trial targeting cognitive function
• diagnosed with a neurological, cerebrovascular, or psychiatric disease, or other chronic medical condition requiring intensive treatment and monitoring
• have major impairments in eyesight, hearing or motor movements
• have clinically significant neuropathy or musculoskeletal or joint disease
• have a recent traumatic brain injury, including concussions
• are currently using prescribed cognitive intervention or electromagnetic stimulation
• at the time of recruit, indicate they recently (within the last 2 months) or will start taking drugs that significantly alter cognition, movement, or affect, such as cholinesterase inhibitors, anticholinergics, hormone replacement therapy, or antidepressants

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of British Columbia: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of British Columbia

Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z1M9, Canada

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Cognitive Dysfunction

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Cognition Disorders; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders

Study Officials

• Teresa Liu-Ambrose, PhD

  University of British Columbia

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• Matthew Noseworthy, BSc

  University of British Columbia

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Assessor will be blinded.
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 1, 2021
• First Posted: September 5, 2021
• Study Start: January 19, 2022
• Primary Completion: July 10, 2023
• Study Completion: November 27, 2023
• Last Updated: January 29, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-01

Locations

CA (1)