The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to determine the impact of Mediterranean-Dash Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet and aerobic training on cognition in Black adults with high systolic blood pressure. Researchers will compare Food Delivery and Cooking PLUS Aerobic Training (FoRKS+) versus Enhanced Usual Care (EUC) to evaluate the effects on cognition. Participants will complete cognitive and cardiovascular assessments, 24-hr blood pressure monitoring, standard blood pressure measurements, weight, fingerstick for HbA1c point-of-care testing, and questionnaires. Participants may also choose to participate in an optional blood draw for DNA Repair Capacity testing as a modifiable risk factor for aging-associated diseases.
This randomized controlled trial will evaluate Mediterranean-Dash Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet and aerobic training (FoRKS+) versus enhanced usual care (EUC) in Black adults with systolic blood pressure of ≥140 mm Hg. This project seeks to evaluate the potential for high-polyphenol nutritious foods, hands-on training in food management skills, and aerobic exercise to impact cognition and risk factor reduction in persons with prevalent chronic disease. Adults who pass the telephone screen will be invited to complete a blood pressure check for final eligibility determination. Participants must receive an average systolic read of ≥130 mmHG across 3 standard BP readings with designated wait periods; a maximum of 5 readings may be attempted to receive 3 successful measurements necessary to calculate the average. Participants who meet criteria and give informed consent will complete a full baseline assessment, consisting of cognitive and cardiovascular assessments, blood pressure, weight, HbA1c testing, questionnaires, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure and optional blood draw. Participants will be randomized to one of two arms: Enhanced Usual Care (EUC), consisting of access to existing usual primary care services such as social determinants of health screenings, referrals to food pantries, and assistance enrolling in food assistance programs. They will be enrolled in a 5-week Hypertension Self-Management Education and Support (SMES) class, which is an existing CDC-endorsed program offered at Eskenazi to provide information and skills for managing hypertension (HTN). Food Delivery and Cooking PLUS Aerobic Training (FoRKS+), consisting of the same services as EUC plus home-delivered MIND diet ingredient kits and virtual cooking classes for an additional 11 weeks with embedded lessons in kitchen organization, tool use, nutrition, budgeting, and shopping; PLUS aerobic training for an additional 12 weeks of moderate-intensity exercise. Assessments will be completed at mid-intervention around Week 16, Week 28 as the primary endpoint, and around Week 52 for maintenance evaluation.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
128
Enhanced Usual Care (EUC) includes 5 weeks of hypertension classes.
Food Delivery and Cooking PLUS Aerobic Training (FoRKS+) includes 5 weeks of hypertension classes followed by 11 weeks of home-delivered Mediterranean-style ingredient kits and virtual cooking classes, and an additional 12 weeks of aerobic exercise.
Eskenazi Health
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
RECRUITINGCognitive function composite score as measured by individually-administered tests of psychomotor speed, complex sequencing, semantic fluency, interference and list learning and delayed recall at Week 28.
The cognitive composite is derived from WAIS-IV Symbol Search \& Coding, Trail Making Test Part B, Animals-Vegetables-Clothing Naming, Stroop Color-Word, and RBANS Update List Learning and List Recall. The composite will be formed by standardizing each test raw score to the sample baseline mean and standard deviation and then taking an average of the resultant z-scores. These measures will be combined into a single, overall cognitive composite score.
Time frame: Week 28 post intervention start date
Cognitive function composite score as measured by individually-administered tests of psychomotor speed, complex sequencing, semantic fluency, interference and list learning and delayed recall at Week 52.
The cognitive composite is derived from WAIS-IV Symbol Search \& Coding, Trail Making Test Part B, Animals-Vegetables-Clothing Naming, Stroop Color-Word, and RBANS Update List Learning and List Recall. The composite will be formed by standardizing each test raw score to the sample baseline mean and standard deviation and then taking an average of the resultant z-scores. These measures will be combined into a single, overall cognitive composite score.
Time frame: Week 52 post intervention start date
Average participant self-ratings of intervention acceptability.
Average of individual Likert self-ratings of the interventions (where 1 = very unenjoyable, 2 = not enjoyable, 3 = neutral, 4 = enjoyable, and 5 = very enjoyable) throughout the 28-week intervention.
Time frame: From date of randomization until the date of the final training session or the end of the 28-week intervention, whichever came first.
Participant adherence to treatment.
Number of training sessions attended divided by the the total number of sessions available.
Time frame: From date of randomization until the date of the final training session or the end of the 28-week intervention, whichever came first.
Participant adherence to outcome assessments.
Number of participants completing the outcome assessments divided by the total number randomized.
Time frame: End of follow-up at 52-weeks.
Number of participants with study-related adverse events (AE) by treatment arm.
Adverse event count for each study arm
Time frame: From enrollment through end of follow-up at 52-weeks.
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