Intergenerational Behavioral Intervention to Enhance Physical Activity in Older Adults at Risk for Alzheimer's Disease

NCT06038643 | Completed Results

• 2 other identifiers: IUSMD-20-38P30AG048785
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 76
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This is a four-week pilot randomized controlled trial of a behavioral intervention in older adults at risk for Alzheimer's disease. Older participants are a subgroup from the PREVENT-AD longitudinal cohort. We will test whether a four-week intergenerational social motivation using a technology-based platform (intervention group) enhances physical activity relative to a control group.

Conditions

Physical Inactivity

Keywords

Risk Factors; Disease Prevention; Alzheimer's Disease; Motivation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Total Step Count (Average Steps/Day)

  This metric quantifies the change in the average number of steps taken each day, from the baseline period to the 4-week period. It is a marker of change in habitual ambulatory activity.

  4-week

Secondary Outcomes (14)

• The Modified Differential Emotions Scale (mDES) Negative Emotions

  4 weeks

• Generativity - Achievement

  4 weeks

• Test My Brain Digital Neuropsychology Toolkit - Backwards Digit Span

  4 weeks

• Loneliness

  4 weeks

• Modified Differential Emotions Scale (mDES) Positive Emotions

  4 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Social motivation intervention, self-transcendence daily messages, and daily accelerometry.

Behavioral: Motivational behavioural intervention and daily activities monitoring

Active Control

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Daily accelerometry.

Behavioral: Active Control

Interventions

Motivational behavioural intervention and daily activities monitoring BEHAVIORAL

Social motivation manipulation, self-transcendence daily messaging, and daily activities monitoring through accelerometry. Participants in this arm will have a study partner who receives daily feedback on the main participant's daily step count.

Intervention

Active Control BEHAVIORAL

Daily activities monitored through accelerometry.

Active Control

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 60 Years - 95 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Men and women \> 60 years Who are current participants of the PREVENT-AD Longitudinal Cohort at McGill University.
• No contraindications to MRI Imaging. Normal cognition Not exercising more than 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week or sitting more than 8 hours per day AND responded "yes" to the question "Do you want to increase your physical activity?" Fluency in English or French Access to a computer or smartphone with internet Normal or corrected-to-normal vision based on the minimal 20/20 standard Ambulatory without significant increase in pain with walking or the assistance of walking devices

You may not qualify if:

• Primary care physician does not approve additional physical activity An inability to ambulate without the assistance of another person or severe pain
• Any unstable medical condition:
• History of a psychiatric illness including schizophrenia or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). History of anxiety or depression accepted if stable on medication for at least 6 months
• Current treatment for cancer - except non-melanoma skin cancer
• Neurological condition (e.g., multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and stroke)
• Current alcohol or substance abuse
• Current treatment for congestive heart failure, angina, uncontrolled arrhythmia, Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) or other unstable cardiovascular condition
• Myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass grafting, angioplasty or other cardiac event in the past six months.
• Can be identified as child or grandchild of participant (biological or adopted), 14 years or older.
• Can be a young adult (18 years or older) who is not a relative of the main participant, in case a grandchild or child is not available.
• Stable on antidepressants for more than 6 months.
• In contact with the primary participant more than once per 12 months at baseline
• Lives anywhere in Canada if 18 years and older, or anywhere accessible by mail in Quebec if 14 years and older but younger than 18 years.
• Normal or corrected-to-normal vision based on the minimal 20/20 standard to complete the cognitive tasks
• Able to speak, read, and write English or French

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Douglas Mental Health University Institute: lead
• Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital: collaborator
• McGill University: collaborator
• National Institute on Aging (NIA): collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Douglas Mental Health University Institute

Montreal, Quebec, H4H 1R3, Canada

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Sedentary Behavior; Alzheimer Disease

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavior; Dementia; Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Tauopathies; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Neurocognitive Disorders; Mental Disorders

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Maiya R. Geddes
• Organization: McGill University

maiya.geddes@mcgill.ca

514-398-8751

Study Officials

• Maiya R Geddes, MD PhD

  McGill University

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Model Details: Intergenerational Social Motivation Behavioral Intervention using a Technology-based Platform Our research will test an innovative, technology-based, and readily scalable cross-generational social behavior intervention to enhance physical activity in at-risk older adults through a randomized controlled trial.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: April 25, 2022
• First Posted: September 15, 2023
• Study Start: October 8, 2023
• Primary Completion: April 14, 2024
• Study Completion: May 30, 2024
• Last Updated: July 9, 2025
• Results First Posted: July 9, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

CA (1)