Optimizing Combined Physical and Cognitive Activity in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.
CONSCIOUS
Determining the Optimal Combination of Physical and Cognitive Activity for Acute Cognitive Benefits in Community-Dwelling Older Adults.
1 other identifier
interventional
53
1 country
1
Brief Summary
This laboratory-based interventional study aims to determine which combination of physical activity intensity and cognitive activity difficulty yields the greatest acute cognitive benefits in community-dwelling older adults. The main question it aims to answer is: \- Which combination of physical and cognitive activity results in the greatest short-term improvement in cognitive functioning? Researchers will compare four different combinations of physical intensity and cognitive task difficulty to determine whether one combination stands out. In addition, the study examines whether these effects differ depending on baseline cardiorespiratory fitness. Participants will:
- undergo a preparatory phase in which their cardiorespiratory fitness, individualized physical activity intensity levels, and cognitive activity difficulty levels are established
- visit the laboratory four times, with one week between visits, to complete each combination of physical and cognitive activity (light vs. moderate physical activity Ă— easy vs. challenging cognitive activity)
- complete cognitive tests immediately before and after each condition
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable healthy
Started Feb 2026
Shorter than P25 for not_applicable healthy
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
Study Start
First participant enrolled
February 2, 2026
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
May 13, 2026
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
May 13, 2026
CompletedFirst Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
June 1, 2026
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
June 5, 2026
CompletedJune 5, 2026
June 1, 2026
3 months
June 1, 2026
June 1, 2026
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (3)
Change in Multitasking Test (MTT) performance from pre- to post-condition
Change in accuracy and response latency from pre- to post-condition on the Multitasking Test (MTT), assessing executive functioning, cognitive flexibility, and processing speed.
Immediately before and 10 minutes after each experimental condition
Change in Delayed Matching to Sample (DMS) performance from pre- to post-condition
Change in accuracy and response latency from pre- to post-condition on the Delayed Matching to Sample (DMS), assessing short-term visual recognition memory.
Immediately before and 10 minutes after each experimental condition
Change in Match to Sample Visual Search (MTS) performance from pre- to post-condition
Change in accuracy and response latency from pre- to post-condition on the Match to Sample Visual Search (MTS), assessing visual attention and psychomotor speed.
Immediately before and 10 minutes after each experimental condition
Secondary Outcomes (3)
General impression of each experimental condition
Immediately after each experimental condition, during the 10-minute post-condition interval.
Perceived feasibility of each experimental condition
Immediately after each experimental condition, during the 10-minute post-condition interval.
Enjoyment of each experimental condition
Immediately after each experimental condition, during the 10-minute post-condition interval.
Study Arms (4)
Sequence 1
EXPERIMENTALParticipants complete the four experimental conditions in the following order across four separate laboratory visits: C1, C2, C3, and C4. C1 = light physical activity + easy cognitive activity; C2 = light physical activity + challenging cognitive activity; C3 = moderate physical activity + easy cognitive activity; C4 = moderate physical activity + challenging cognitive activity.
Sequence 2
EXPERIMENTALParticipants complete the four experimental conditions in the following order across four separate laboratory visits: C2, C4, C1, and C3. C1 = light physical activity + easy cognitive activity; C2 = light physical activity + challenging cognitive activity; C3 = moderate physical activity + easy cognitive activity; C4 = moderate physical activity + challenging cognitive activity.
Sequence 3
EXPERIMENTALParticipants complete the four experimental conditions in the following order across four separate laboratory visits: C3, C1, C4, and C2. C1 = light physical activity + easy cognitive activity; C2 = light physical activity + challenging cognitive activity; C3 = moderate physical activity + easy cognitive activity; C4 = moderate physical activity + challenging cognitive activity.
Sequence 4
EXPERIMENTALParticipants complete the four experimental conditions in the following order across four separate laboratory visits: C4, C3, C2, and C1. C1 = light physical activity + easy cognitive activity; C2 = light physical activity + challenging cognitive activity; C3 = moderate physical activity + easy cognitive activity; C4 = moderate physical activity + challenging cognitive activity.
Interventions
Participants walk on a treadmill at an individualized light physical activity intensity (30-39% of heart rate reserve) while performing cognitive tasks individually classified as easy.
Participants walk on a treadmill at an individualized light physical activity intensity (30-39% of heart rate reserve) while performing cognitive tasks individually classified as challenging.
Participants walk on a treadmill at an individualized moderate physical activity intensity (40-59% of heart rate reserve) while performing cognitive tasks individually classified as easy.
Participants walk on a treadmill at an individualized moderate physical activity intensity (40-59% of heart rate reserve) while performing cognitive tasks individually classified as challenging.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Aged 65 years or older
- Community-dwelling
- Able to safely walk on a treadmill and complete the 6-Minute Walk Test
- Sufficient Dutch proficiency to understand study instructions and complete study procedures
You may not qualify if:
- MoCA score \< 23
- Severe cognitive or physical impairment that would hinder participation or understanding of study procedures
- Use of medication affecting heart rate
- Any medical condition contraindicating engagement in physical or cognitive activity
- Severe visual or hearing impairment that would prevent valid participation in the study procedures
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- University Ghentlead
Study Sites (1)
University Ghent
Ghent, 9000, Belgium
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Greet Cardon, Prof. Dr.
University Ghent
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- NONE
- Purpose
- BASIC SCIENCE
- Intervention Model
- CROSSOVER
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
June 1, 2026
First Posted
June 5, 2026
Study Start
February 2, 2026
Primary Completion
May 13, 2026
Study Completion
May 13, 2026
Last Updated
June 5, 2026
Record last verified: 2026-06
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will share
- Shared Documents
- STUDY PROTOCOL, ICF
- Time Frame
- De-identified individual participant data will become available after publication of the primary study results and are expected to remain available indefinitely in an institutional or open research repository.
De-identified individual participant data collected during the study will be made available to other researchers. The exact dataset(s), supporting documents, timing, and access procedures will be specified after completion of the main analyses and publication of the primary study results.