NCT03035851 · RECRUITING
Aerobic Exercise for Older Adults at Increased Risk of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias
This trial tests whether six months of supervised aerobic exercise helps thinking and memory more than a stretching and toning program. Participants are inactive adults aged 50 to 80 with memory complaints but no dementia. Researchers also look at blood flow in the brain. It is not a drug study, and results will show whether the program is worth recommending, not whether it prevents dementia.
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * inactive men and women aged 50-80 years (inclusive) with subjective cognitive symptoms but no dementia who have one or more vascular risk factors (see below) for ADRD; * Inactivity will be assessed with a physical activity questionnaire and defined as engagement in \<3 sessions/week of 20 min or more of vigorous exercise; * Subjective cognitive symptoms will be self-reported using the MAC-Q Memory Complaint Questionnaire, recently validated as a measure of subjective memory complaints in healthy elderly subjects, in patients with mild cognitive impairment, and in relation to AD biomarkers; participants with a score of ≥25 will be considered eligible. * Vascular risk factors for ADRD including the following: * history of hypertension; * diabetes mellitus; * obesity (body mass index (BMI) \<40 kg/m2) * elevated cholesterol; * currently smoking; * past history of coronary artery disease without recent (\<5 years) symptoms. Participants must provide a completed PAR-Q+ form (www.csep.ca), the standard method of obtaining physician approval for participation in an exercise program. For participants without a family doctor to provide this form, we will provide information on how to find a family doctor. Exclusion Criteria: * diagnosis of a developmental handicap; * history of dementia (DSM-V criteria)**; * terminal illness (life expectancy \< 1 year) * not fluent in verbal and written English; * history of stroke; * currently participating in another trial; * comorbid medical or neurological illnesses (e.g., multiple sclerosis) that would confound cognitive assessments or make trial completion unlikely (in the site investigator's opinion); * contraindication for the intervention; * contraindication for an MRI exam. * **Existing or suspected dementia will be identified by medical history, cognitive impairment on the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS-modified; score≤ 20), or impaired Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) - a response of needs assistance or dependent due to cognitive impairments on any item on the Lawton scale.
The sponsor's own eligibility wording, lightly reformatted. The study team makes the final eligibility decision — worth discussing with your doctor.
Eligibility criteria as of 2026-04-29