Actively Recruiting
Exercise to Improve Brain Health in Older African Americans
Led by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey · Updated on 2026-02-20
280
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
227 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
R
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Lead Sponsor
G
Göteborg University
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The goal of this clinical trial is to test the effects of different types of exercise on brain health and Alzheimer's risk in older African Americans. Specifically, the main question\[s\] it aims to answer are: * What is the effect of a Cardio-Dance Fitness (CDF) vs. a Strength, Flexibility, and Balance (SFB) intervention on a cognitive marker of Alzheimer's risk, generalization? * What is the effect of the CDF vs. SFB intervention on a fMRI biomarker of Alzheimer's, neural flexibility, and do improvements in neural flexibility mediate improvements in generalization? * Do ABCA7 genotypic variations moderate the efficacy of the CDF vs. SFB intervention for reducing Alzheimer's risk? Participants will undergo-- at baseline and post-test-- health assessments, cognitive tests, and structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and a blood-draw to assess Alzheimer's risk biomarker levels.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Exercise to Improve Brain Health in Older African Americans
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Self-identify as African American or Black
- Be age 60 or older
- Able to speak, read, and understand English
- Available during the study period
- Independently ambulatory (no wheelchair, walker, or cane needed)
- Low physical activity level (less than 60 minutes per week) based on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire
- Score between 28 and 35 on the Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status Modified
- Score between 20 and 26 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment during screening
- Have medical clearance from a primary care physician
You will not qualify if you...
- Color-blindness
- Any diagnosed neurological disorder, including headaches and peripheral neuropathy
- Diagnosed or self-reported psychiatric disorders that could affect study completion, including major depressive disorder (Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form score 65), schizophrenia, delusional disorder, schizoaffective disorder, psychosis, substance-related and addictive disorders (or treatment in past five years)
- Undergoing chemotherapy or radiation for cancer
- Planning general anesthesia during the study period
- Exercise contraindications such as orthopedic complications, recent heart attack, coronary artery procedures in the past year, current congestive heart failure treatment, angina, uncontrolled arrhythmia, deep vein thrombosis or other cardiovascular events
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure with resting systolic or diastolic pressures above 180/110 mmHg
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey - Newark campus
Newark, New Jersey, United States, 07102
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
B
Bernadette A. Fausto, PhD
CONTACT
J
Jennifer Greene, MPH
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
TRIPLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
PREVENTION
Number of Arms
2
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