Putting exercise to the test in people at risk for Alzheimer’s

(A study taking place in USA – National Institue on Ageing – February 2017)

Can exercise slow or prevent cognitive decline in older people who are at increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease? A new clinical trial led by NIA-supported scientists in collaboration with the YMCA aims to find out whether exercise may be an effective nondrug treatment for staying cognitively fit.

The trial, called EXERT, will enroll 300 people, age 65 to 89, with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a condition of mild memory problems that often leads to Alzheimer’s dementia. Based on the trial’s results, the researchers hope to develop an evidence-based “prescription” that will tell people the type and frequency of exercise needed to support memory and thinking skills.

The trial, to take place at 13 U.S. sites, is coordinated by the NIA-supported Alzheimer’s Disease Cooperative Study, a consortium of universities and research centers in the United States and Canada.
This 18-month trial won’t last long enough to determine if exercise can prevent dementia, Dr. Baker said. But it seeks to determine if exercise can slow disease progression and cognitive decline by altering biological signs of Alzheimer’s in the brain.