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ISO 27001 CertifiedActively Recruiting
Led by Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey · Updated on 2026-02-20
280
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
13 weeks
Total Duration
Researchers are studying the effects of different types of exercise on brain health and Alzheimers disease risk in older African Americans. This research focuses on comparing Cardio-Dance Fitness CDF with Strength, Flexibility, and Balance SFB exercises, investigating their impact on cognitive markers and brain function related to Alzheimers. The study also explores how genetic variations in the ABCA7 gene may influence how individuals respond to these exercise programs. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups the CDF group, which involves aerobic cardio-dance classes held three times a week for about 60 minutes each session over six months, or the SFB active control group, which meets with the same frequency and duration but focuses on non-aerobic strength, flexibility, and balance exercises. Both interventions include social interaction and are designed to be engaging and structurally equivalent. Throughout the study, participants will undergo health assessments, cognitive testing, structural and functional MRI scans, and blood draws at the start and end of the six-month intervention. These evaluations will measure changes in cognitive performance, brain neural flexibility, and Alzheimers biomarkers like amyloid and tau proteins. The researchers will monitor these outcomes to understand the effects of the exercise programs and the role of genetic factors in modifying these effects.
CONDITIONS
Exercise to Improve Brain Health in Older African Americans
B
Bernadette A. Fausto, PhD
J
Jennifer Greene, MPH
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Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Lead Sponsor
Göteborg University
Collaborating Sponsor
This table compares participation in this trial with other options available for this condition. The information is drawn from published research and the trial’s study details and is provided for educational purposes only.
| Factors | Cardio‑Dance Fitness | Strength, Flexibility & Balance |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A six‑month, thrice‑weekly group aerobics cardio‑dance class (~60 min per session) taught in a social setting with heart‑rate monitoring. | A six‑month, thrice‑weekly group non‑aerobic strength, flexibility, and balance training class matching the schedule and social setting of the aerobic arm. |
| Role in trial | Investigational aerobic intervention designed to assess effects on cognition and neural flexibility. | Active comparator arm providing non‑aerobic exercise with equivalent structure to isolate the effect of aerobic activity. |
| Primary use | Being evaluated for improving cognitive generalization and medial temporal lobe neural flexibility in older African Americans. | Serves as a comparator to evaluate whether non‑aerobic activity influences the same cognitive outcomes. |
| How it is given or performed | Delivered as instructor‑led cardio‑dance sessions with heart‑rate monitoring three times per week for 24 weeks. | Delivered as instructor‑led non‑aerobic sessions three times per week for 24 weeks matching schedule of cardio‑dance arm. |
| Evidence status | Preliminary evidence in older African American adults shows cardio‑dance may improve attention and mood compared with no exercise control. | Evidence specific to non‑aerobic strength/flexibility/balance training alone in this population is limited. |
| Important limitations | Existing evidence comes from a small non‑randomized cohort without active comparator; effects on cognition and neural markers remain untested in this randomized trial. | Lacks established evidence for cognitive impact as a standalone active comparator in African American older adults. |
Disclaimer: This comparison is created with the help of artificial intelligence(AI) and may contain errors or missing information. It is not medical advice and does not mean one option is better or safer than another. Clinical trials are still being studied, and joining a trial is your choice. Please consult your healthcare professional before making any decisions.
You may qualify if you...
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Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - 24 weeks (approximately 6 months)
Participants engage in either a Cardio-Dance Fitness exercise or a Strength, Flexibility & Balance exercise program to improve brain health.
Three exercise sessions per week, approximately 60 minutes each
Duration - At enrollment and post-intervention
Participants complete health assessments, cognitive tests, MRI scans, and blood draws at enrollment and after the intervention to evaluate changes.
2 visits (in-person)
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
TRIPLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
PREVENTION
Number of Arms
2
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Mark A Gluck, Joshua L Gills, Bernadette A Fausto...
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38076534/Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Lead Sponsor
Göteborg University
Collaborating Sponsor
