The goal of this behavioral clinical trial is to learn how to increase physical activity in mid-life adults. Specifically, can guided imagery that includes creating mental pictures increase excitement about working out. Participants will be asked to complete testing at the beginning of the study, following 6-weeks of an in-person exercise program, and 6-weeks after finishing the exercise program. Testing will include an exercise test, MRI, questionnaires, computer tasks, and a blood draw.
The proposed project will target regulation and reward systems using guided imagery to increase exercise adherence by increasing positive affect and the evaluation of future rewards among mid-life adults. The investigators will conduct a within subject design in 160 mid-life adults (45-65 years of age) and examine the impact of different components of guided imagery on exercise adherence, regulation systems indexed by delay discounting, positive affect related to exercise, and functional neuroimaging (i.e., connectivity between regulation and reward brain regions). Participants will be asked to complete three assessment appointment periods: 1) baseline, 2) 6-weeks (i.e., end of exercise intervention), and 3) 12-weeks. Each appointment will include assessment of primary outcome measures of delay discounting and exercise positive affect. In addition, baseline and 6-week appointments will include functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) assessments of functional connectivity between reward and regulation regions. Physical activity will be measured at baseline, immediately following the intervention, and 6 weeks following the intervention to explore changes in physical activity across study participation. At the end of the final appointment participants will be debriefed on the goals of the study and asked to provide feedback related to feasibility, the guided imagery experience, and exercise intervention experience to inform future research. In addition, blood draws will be completed at baseline to assess genetic risk for developing Alzheimer's disease (i.e., APOE). If successful, this approach could be used in future studies to increase participation in exercise and adherence to exercise interventions with the goal of promoting brain health and reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The design of the proposed clinical trial permits a rigorous evaluation of the role of engaging regulation and reward systems to change immediate and future reward. The exercise intervention will consist of one-on-one high intensity interval training (HIIT) overseen by an exercise specialist twice a week for 6 weeks. Exercise adherence will be monitored as the percentage of the weekly exercise and adherence to the HIIT protocol.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
160
During the audio recorded guided imagery exercise participants will be asked to think in detail of a future (6 months to a year) where they have made healthy choices regarding physical activity and are physically active.
During the audio recorded guided imagery exercise participants will be asked to think about a routine weekly activity.
During the audio recorded guided imagery exercise participants will be asked to think in detail about the positive outcomes and sensations associated with an exercise bout.
During the audio recorded guided imagery exercise participants will be asked to think in detail about the physical sensations associated with an exercise bout.
The high intensity interval training (HIIT) will be conducted 2 times per week for 6 weeks. The duration of each individual exercise session will last about 45 minutes. After the 5-minute warm-up at 30% peak workload, HIIT will consist of repeated 1-minute high intensity bursts ("on" interval) alternated with 1-minute interval recovery ("off" interval) for 25 minutes. The "on" interval will begin at 80% of peak watts (range: 75%-85%) followed by the "off" interval at 10% of peak watts. The session will end with up to 10 minute cool-down at 20% peak workload.
University of Kansas Medical Center
Kansas City, Kansas, United States
RECRUITINGAdherence to HIIT exercise
Adherence will be calculated as percent sessions attended each week and percent minutes during which the participant adhered to the HIIT protocol.
Time frame: 1 to 6-weeks
The Monetary-Choice Questionnaire
The Monetary-Choice Questionnaire is a 27-item self-administered questionnaire. For each item, the participant chooses between a smaller, immediate monetary reward and a larger, delayed monetary reward. The investigators will behaviorally assess participants' preferences for immediately available smaller rewards vs. delayed larger rewards.
Time frame: 1 to 6-weeks
Positive Affect
The Feeling Scale is a single item measure of core affect on which participants are asked to rate their current feelings on an 11-point scale ranging from -5 (very bad) to 5 (very good).
Time frame: 1 to 6-weeks
Percent signal change in Functional Connectivity Neuroimaging
The investigators will assess % signal changes in brain connectivity between reward and regulation brain regions following intervention.
Time frame: 1 to 6-weeks
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