The goal of this clinical trial is to test a newer type of high intensity interval resistance training in adults 65 years of age or older. The main aims of this study are: 1. To develop study procedures in order to conduct a randomized controlled trial to test the impact of high intensity interval training on cognition in older adults. We will develop procedures for recruitment, screening, data collection, blinded randomization, HIIRT and EA interventions, safety monitoring, and data analyses. 2. To determine the feasibility of using high intensity interval resistance training as an intervention. Feasibility will be shown by; 1) recruiting the target population and meeting our overall patient accrual goal of 30 participants over a 12-week period, 2) achieving an average attendance rate of ≥ 70% of the 24 scheduled sessions in the HIIRT group, 3) at least 80% retention of participants at the final follow-up assessment (week 12), and 4) successful completion of the MRI task (finishing the session with a behavioral accuracy greater than 70%) by at least 80% of participants. Acceptability will be assessed via participants' ratings on a standardized measure of treatment satisfaction and reasons for dropout. Acceptability will be indicated in 2 ways: 70% of the participants report treatment satisfaction on a standard questionnaire, and consistent collection of follow-up data across sites. 3. To examine causal mechanisms and preliminary efficacy. We will examine the relationships among several proposed mediators of the expected treatment effect. We will also examine the mean change and variability of our primary outcomes.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
30
During each group exercise session, the participants will be guided through a 5-minute warm-up, supervised to perform two sets of machine-based leg press, chest press, seated row, and shoulder press exercises at 30% of 1-RM, and guided through a cool-down. Each exercise set will be 40 -seconds in length with instructions to perform as many repetitions as possible followed by a 20-second rest in between sets and a three-minute rest between exercises.
The stretching, balance, and range of motion intervention will include a rotating and varied routine of stretching exercises for large and small muscle groups, and activities to improve balance and range of motion. Participants will attend this intervention twice a week with each session lasting 30 minutes.
Executive Functioning
Executive Functioning will be operationalized as an index of several computer-based tasks assessing aspects of executive functioning: Inhibition (Stroop Test), Updating (The 4-part continuous performance task), and Switching (Shifting attention task, Symbol Digit Coding).
Time frame: Baseline and 12-weeks
Gradual Continuous Performance Test
Participants will make continuous responses to target picture stimuli (images of cities among distractor images of mountains). Periodically, a colored border will appear around each location, cuing the participant to attend to either the left or right picture stream. If the currently cued stream differs from their previous focus of attention, the participant will make a saccadic eye movement. At the same time as the color onset, a number will appear at each location. Participants will then make an even/odd discrimination for stimuli appearing at the to-be-attended location.
Time frame: Baseline and 12-weeks
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imagining
Participants will complete a 60-minute magnetic resonance imagining session during which will acquire a high-resolution anatomical scan, an echo planar image while participants complete the Gradual Continuous Performance Test. This task is a cognitive task designed to measure the neural correlates of moment-by-moment fluctuations in the efficacy of sustained attention and attention shifting readiness, termed attentional flexibility, a resting state scan, and a diffusion tensor imaging to measure white matter tract integrity.
Time frame: Baseline and 12-weeks
Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor
Blood will be drawn using venipuncture to collect a serum sample. A blood analysis will be performed to examine brain derived neurotrophic factor, a marker suggesting an increase hippocampal neural growth.
Time frame: Baseline and 12-weeks
The Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale
The physical activity enjoyment scale captures the extent to which an individual enjoys the physical activities they are currently participating in. The individual is asked to respond to 18 items with bipolar anchors on a 7-point Likert-type scale (e.g., 1=I enjoy it, 7=I hate it; 1=I feel bored, 7=I feel interested).
Time frame: Baseline and 12-weeks
Community Health Activities Model Program for Seniors Activity Questionnaire for Older Adults
This physical activity questionnaire tasks participants with reporting the extent to which they participated in various occupational, transport, leisure time, and home physical activities in the previous 4 weeks (e.g., "In a typical or normal week during the past 4 weeks, did you do heavy gardening?"). If the participant indicates "yes" they next indicate the weekly frequency and duration of the activity. Following scoring, the scale produces variables capturing average weekly frequency, duration, and caloric expenditure for both total physical activity and exercise-specific activities.
Time frame: Baseline and 12-weeks
Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scales
he BPNSFS reflect the extent to which an individual experiences satisfaction and frustration in achieving the core human needs of relatedness, competence, and autonomy. Participants respond to 24 questions (e.g., "I feel a sense of choice and freedom in the things I undertake") on a 5-point Likert-type scale where 1 indicates "Not True at All" and 5 indicates "Completely True". The scale produces 6 subscale scores, including both frustration and satisfaction subscales for autonomy, competence, and satisfaction. Each subscale is computed as the sum of four questionnaire items, with scores ranging from 4-20, with higher scores reflecting greater satisfaction or frustration.
Time frame: Baseline and 12-weeks
SF-36 Health Questionnaire
The SF-36 is a generic measure of health status/health-related quality of life that consists of two norm-based composite T-scales, mental health and physical function, and 8 subscales: physical functioning, mental health, role-physical, role-emotional, bodily pain, general health, vitality, and social functioning.
Time frame: Baseline and 12-weeks
400 Meter Walk Test
The 400 meter walk test assesses walking speed and endurance in older adults on a 20 meter course. The timed walk covers 10 laps totaling 400 meters.
Time frame: Baseline and 12-weeks
Short Physical Performance Battery
This measure assesses lower extremity functioning.
Time frame: Baseline and 12-weeks
Stroop Test
This is a three part test. Participants will be asked to respond the words "RED", "GREEN", "YELLOW", "BLUE", and "GREEN" in different colors according to the instructions provided for each part.
Time frame: Baseline and 12-weeks
Symbol Digit Coding
The symbol digit coding test measures complex information processing accuracy, complex attention, visual-perceptual speed, and information processing speed.
Time frame: Baseline and 12-weeks
Four-Part Continuous Performance Test
The four-part continuous performance is a test that measures the participant's working memory and sustained attention.
Time frame: Baseline and 12-weeks
Shifting Attention Test
The shifting attention test is a measure of ability to shift from one instruction set to another quickly and accurately. Participants will be instructed to match geometric objects either by shape or by color.
Time frame: Baseline and 12-weeks
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